Chelsea FC: What Is Jose Mourinho's Best 2nd-Choice Starting XI?
Chelsea have dropped five of their last nine available points in the Premier League. With the promise of matches to come, however, the Blues have four league games this month to correct their minor slump.
Added alongside Champions League and League Cup duties, Jose Mourinho will need to use his resources wisely, having limited options with a squad of only 24 first-team players, being able to confidently field a second squad of world-class players seems vital to Chelsea's long-term success.
There are some players who—in most every circumstance—are undroppable: No matter the game they will likely take the pitch.
In attempting to create an XI with these automatic selections, the formation selected is 4-3-3, with one holding midfielder and two, more advanced options.
GK: Petr Cech
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"We like him, we respect him and we need him." Words about Chelsea's long-serving goalkeeper Petr Cech from Jose Mourinho in an interview with Yahoo! Sport.
Though Thibaut Courtois has taken his spot, the Blues literal "No. 1" is still a valuable piece in Mourinho's setup. Appearing for the concussed Belgian vs. Arsenal, Cech showed that having a back-up of his quality and experience leaves no doubt in the mind of his manager.
Linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge, as noted by the Mirror's John Cross, Mourinho's confidence and praise in the Czech Republic international may keep the helmeted goalkeeper in west London for another seven months—especially if his agent's interpretation of proceedings is correct.
LB: Filipe Luis
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Filipe Luis might have thought his west London adventure was going to be more exciting than it has been.
Bought for £16 million, the Brazilian was expected to take over the left-back reigns from Ashley Cole, leaving Cesar Azpilicueta and Branislav Ivanovic to fight at right-back—that has failed to materialise.
Plying his trade mostly in the Champions League and Capital One Cup, his place in a second-choice XI is firmly secured, the 29-year-old full-back starting six of the seven games played in those competitions.
CB: John Terry (C)
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The first "untouchable" in this Chelsea side is captain John Terry.
During the short reign of Rafa Benitez, there was doubt whether the centre-back's Stamford Bridge tenure was ending; insert Jose Mourinho in summer 2013, and Terry has reinstalled every inch of confidence in his place.
England's former captain has stated his intention to play past this season, via Squawka's Sam Parker; were he to maintain his form from the last 16 months, there seems no earthly reason why he would be denied another 12 should he want them.
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CB: Kurt Zouma
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Bought in January for £12.5 million, Kurt Zouma was no cheap purchase, but he might very well prove value for money over the next decade-plus.
Loaned back to his former club AS Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 then integrated this summer, Zouma may often find himself lumped in with Chelsea's crop of talented Academy products, but the Frenchman was carefully selected by Jose Mourinho.
Already picking up the Blues' defensive ethics of apt positioning and selfless blocking, the 20-year-old defender looks made for the Premier League in almost every way.
RB: Cesar Azpilicueta
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Cesar Azpilicueta embodies the term "Mourinho man" more than any footballer on the Chelsea squad list; therefore, the Spanish international is the second "untouchable" from the first-choice starting XI.
Tenacious, diligent and comfortable on the ball, Azpilicueta is arguably the best full-back in England and to drop him from the team—in any meaningful fixture—is unintelligible.
Able to play on either side of defence, the £6.5 million transfer from Olympique de Marseille gives Jose Mourinho options—and managers love nothing more than having options.
CDM: Nemanja Matic
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If he was not valued by every football enthusiast in England before Chelsea's 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, Nemanja Matic may have crept into "2014/15 Player of the Year" discussions without kicking a ball.
Giving cover, calm and a large frame—with no real replacement in the Blues' 24-man squad—the Serbian is likely the first name Jose Mourinho writes on his team sheet.
Brought back to Stamford Bridge in January for £21 million, one wonders what the current appraisal is for Matic? Were you to ask TransferMarkt, £22.8 million is the rate. In 2014's transfer market, were the 26-year-old sold, £35 million is probably closer to the truth—and he would be worth every penny.
LCM: Ramires
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Despite amassing over 200 Chelsea appearances since 2010, Ramires' role has been rather diminished after the arrivals of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas in the past year.
The Blues' best box-to-box option, the 4-3-3 is tailor-made to fit a man known, in his native Brazil, as "the Blue Kenyan." Not brilliant at any one aspect of football—minus his marathon-runner-like attributes—Ramires is a jack of all trades, master of none.
Able to link play, score the odd goal and defend, he is a testament to Chelsea's squad depth/quality that an artisan in a Jose Mourinho side cannot make the first XI.
RCM: Cesc Fabregas
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A common conception in sports suggests new acquisitions need time to learn their teammates and adjust to a new league.
Cesc Fabregas had a small learning curve with the latter—having been an Arsenal player for the better part of a decade—but his seamless transition into the heart of Chelsea's midfield has been rather astonishing.
Providing his new club with 14 assists in 20 games thus far, Fabregas has been the lock-pick Jose Mourinho's squad did not have last season; failing to including the Spaniard in a game of import would be tantamount to blasphemy given his current form—irreverent of first- or second-team distinction.
LW: Eden Hazard
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The last of Jose Mourinho's automatic selections, regardless of teams, is Belgian attacker Eden Hazard. The Belgian winger has played in every game for Chelsea thus far into 2014/15.
Hazard's improved goalscoring ratio has certainly been a part of Chelsea's positions in their respective competitions—going from a goal in every 3.7 matches in his first two seasons with Chelsea (30 goals in 111 games) to a 2.8 clip (seven in 20), excluding the Capital One Cup, this year.
Possessing, arguably, the quickest feet in England—and just 23 years old—imagining any Chelsea side without the Belgian star for the next decade is rather difficult.
RW: Andre Schurrle
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Andre Schurrle was thought to be a first-choice selection after his World Cup performances, but Chelsea's sustained success with Willian on the right flank has given the German a lesser role than projected.
Reported by Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express, Schurrle is linked with moves across Europe this winter, but the Blues would do well in keeping their sharp-eyed winger for depth and rotational purposes.
Blessed with pace and a terrific right boot, in games where Chelsea need a spark or have to rest their preferred option, Schurrle is an advantageous piece to have at their disposal.
CF: Didier Drogba
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Loic Remy might have thought when he signed for Chelsea near the end of the summer transfer window he was easily Jose Mourinho's second-choice striker—not so fast.
Bringing back a club legend for free, Mourinho has played Didier Drogba as his No. 2 centre-forward option, behind the free-scoring Spaniard Diego Costa.
Some might have expected the former Ivory Coast captain to be out of place in the Premier League, but after recovering from a pre-season ankle injury, Drogba has shown old dogs still know the tricks of the trade, scoring six goals in 18 appearances.
Fun Fact: Chelsea received 31 goals from their strikers (Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o, Demba Ba and Romelu Luaku) in 2013/14; reloading with Costa, Remy and Drogba, the Blues already have 20 goals from their "No. 9s."
Comments Section: Who Ya Got?
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Given gargantuan investments into the club by Roman Abramovich, Chelsea have so many options from which to choose.
There is rarely a wrong answer to these questions, as the choices are world class at every turn, but you may think the Blues have better options than the ones listed.
Feel free to place your second-choice Chelsea XI's in the comments section, as well as the formation you feel gets the best out of your team!
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via soccerbase.com where not noted.
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