Chelsea FC: More Vital to the Blues' Success, Cesc Fabregas or Nemanja Matic?
Jose Mourinho used the midfield partnership of Ramires and Frank Lampard most often in the 2013/14 Premier League campaign. With serviceable options both starting and on the bench, Chelsea's 4-2-3-1 double pivot was rarely criticised as being inadequate but, seeing his team needed change, Mourinho elected to rebrand his squad's profile.
After taking over the west London club in June 2013, the Portuguese had eight months to identify key areas for improvement. No doubt scouring the European landscape, Mourinho went to his homeland and selected SL Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic as his primary building block, finalizing the £21 million deal 15 January.
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The selection raised a few eyebrows as Matic once played for the Blues, leaving as a makeweight in David Luiz's transfer, but those eyebrows were quickly lowered in the Serbian's first big match vs. Manchester City on 3 February. Given Yaya Toure to control, Matic held his own—outperforming the three-time African Footballer of the Year in Chelsea's best away result of the 2013/14 season.
Making an immediate impact, the return of Matic has not been questioned since Chelsea's trip to the Etihad.
As arguably the best Premier League player in his position, it would seem hard to allege anyone but the mammoth Serbian takes precedence as Stamford Bridge's most vital instrument—but there was more shuffling this summer.
Mourinho, failing to win a trophy last season, spent upwards of £85 million (only £5 million net) bringing Diego Costa, Filipe Luis, Loic Remy, Didier Drogba and Cesc Fabregas to west London. Of the six new Blues, Fabregas was certainly the most controversial.
A former Arsenal player, Arsene Wenger had the first-option to buy him from Barcelona but decided against bringing his erstwhile captain back, per Eurosport, leaving an open £27 million door for Chelsea to walk through and acquire his signature. That said, not known to have fervent defensive inclinations, many questioned how the Spanish maestro would figure into the heart of Mourinho's team, replacing the legendary boots of Lampard.
"Rather seamlessly" appears the correct answer.
Starting 22 games, contributing three goals and 14 assists, Fabregas' presence has allowed the likes of Costa to flourish in a goal-teeming 2014/15 Chelsea outfit.
With one holding midfielder controlling the Blues' offence, and the other maintaining the Blues' defensive balance, there has been debate as to which member of Mourinho's new double pivot is the most indispensable.
Having played without Fabregas and Matic within their last four matches, Chelsea supporters will have caught glimpses of how their side maneuvers in the absence of both footballers.
Versus Newcastle United, Mourinho travelled to St. James' Park devoid of Matic and his team was beaten on the break, for the game-winning goal. Versus Hull City, the Blues looked rather brainless in midfield, playing backwards, missing passes: no coincidence Fabregas' omission was the chief culprit in Chelsea's sloppiness.
Playing minus either option is an eerie proposition for the west Londoners, but were one forced to pick—while Fabregas is brilliant—Matic is the key to this particular team, as presently constructed.
Though not as well, the Serbian can do what Fabregas does: be direct, spot passes and link play. Whether the Spanish international is capable of the bulwark game Mourinho requires from Matic has not been, and likely will never be, tested.
Creativity permeates through Chelsea's attacking options: Eden Hazard, Oscar, Andre Schurrle, Willian and Mohamed Salah all have goals in their boots, and as seen vs. Hull City, even without the deep-lying playmaker in Fabregas, they can still manage to break down packed defenses with help from each other and their forwards.
Mourinho does not possess similar reinforcements for Matic.
John Obi Mikel is positionally terrific, but he is sometimes technically vacant; Ramires has Chelsea's best engine, but he has disciplinary lapses. Both have their place in the Blues' setup, but Matic has the perfect blend of height, vision and tactical awareness.
Until the likes of Nathaniel Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek or an outside transfer arrive to give Mourinho more depth in the slightly more offensive "Makelele Role," figuring how any footballer could be more invaluable to Chelsea's success than Matic proves exceptionally challenging to decipher.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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