What Role Should Andre Schurrle Play for Chelsea as the Season Moves Forward?
The summer started in the best possible way for Andre Schurrle; a key component in Germany's all-conquering, World Cup-winning side, the winger must have thought his place in Jose Mourinho's first-choice starting XI was all but secured—he will have thought wrong.
Despite scoring three goals on the world's largest footballing stage (two of them coming in Germany's 7-1 demolition of host nation Brazil) and unlocking Argentina's defence for Mario Gotze's winner in the World Cup final, Schurrle has returned to west London oft finding his preferred positions filled by Eden Hazard and Willian.
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Hazard is undoubtedly an irreplaceable cog in Mourinho's plans, so the pervading notion this summer was that Brazilian competitor Willian would sacrifice minutes and starts to the 24-year-old German—high off his summer performances—and he did, initially.
Schurrle started three of Chelsea's first four Premier League games, and he scored the Blues' go-ahead goal vs. Manchester City in their fifth EPL outing; it seemed all was going to the summer’s blueprint, but as an old adage begins "form is temporary."
Unable to hold his summer form into autumn—in part due to the flu—last year's £18 million investment has been used less often since the season’s first month. Schurrle's recent scarcity has led many to question how the German fits into Mourinho’s long-term plans.
Having the English marathon from 3 December to 1 January (which sees Mourinho’s men playing nine times), and four competitions to navigate overall, makes Schurrle a valuable piece in a rotational sense, but being out of Mourinho’s preferred XI could prey on his form even further.
The right-sided attacking midfielder’s role in this Chelsea outfit is simple: to run and to do so both ways.
Nemanja Matic protects Eden Hazard on the left, but with Fabregas on the right side of the double pivot, the right midfielder must be willing to track back. Add the always-advancing Branislav Ivanovic from right-back and the job becomes one for an athlete more than a technical winger.
An argument could be made that Schurrle is the better "pure footballer" than Willian, but one would be hard pressed in arguing the German is a better all-around athlete than Chelsea’s afro-ed Brazilian international.
Mourinho—needing balance in his team—was always going to choose Willian against bigger clubs, and great displays against perceived giants is invariably rewarded with games against perceived dwarfs.
Correcting form is done by playing matches; if Willian has taken charge of the right attacking-midfielder position, Schurrle will be left waiting for the Brazilian’s form to wane or an injury to the preferred options for another opportunity, specifically when matches thin out come the new year.
According to Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express, Schurrle is a winter transfer target for Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, rated at £25 million. The pre-January rumour mill is notoriously fantastic, so these reports should not be taken too seriously, but were the 24-year-old on the market, him having suitors across European football would not shock.
The rumours carry weight because Mourinho has seemingly made his choice as to which winger represents his best option, but taking the current picture and making it the only picture is tantamount to idiocy.
Schurrle’s current spell as second-choice winger could end for any number of reasons—injuries, illness, etc.—thus having a player of his quality is imperative for a team of the Blues’ stature and calibre.
Mourinho told reporters before Chelsea's 0-0 draw vs. Sunderland on Saturday, via ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney, that his team will not suffer from premature satisfaction—even though their gap atop the Premier League table is pronounced—saying:
"We have all the other risks, the risks that belong to football. The risk of a bad period. The risk of injuries. The risk of unlucky matches. The risk of other teams growing up, a great evolution, and becoming stronger during the season.
Complacency is not a risk we have because it's not the profile of this group at this moment.
"
To the Portuguese’s point: Complacency can only exist when players feel there is nothing left for which to play.
In answering our title question: Schurrle’s biggest role—especially when benched—is the threat he poses to Chelsea’s favoured attacking-midfield trio. To understand should their form dip, a world-class, World Cup champion is waiting in the wings appears an invaluable characteristic to the front-running west Londoners and their intrepid manager.
If the sight of Schurrle warming up on the touchline can spur fresh impetus into Hazard, Oscar and/or Willian, the winger is certainly worth his weekly wage.
*Stats via whoscored.com; transfer fees via soccerbase.com where not noted.
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