Oscar and 4 Chelsea Players with Points to Prove This Summer

Now that the Premier League and European seasons are over, attentions are being focused elsewhere.

We have the FIFA Women's World Cup, Copa America and UEFA European Under-21 Championship to keep us entertained between now and August, when club football kicks off again.

It all means some players have been given an extended opportunity to catch the eye, to show us what they are capable of.

Or, for those being given a much-needed rest, they will be thinking ahead to pre-season, when they can lay down a marker for the 2015/16 season.

It's no different with some of those in the Chelsea squad.

The summer tournaments and pre-season could be make-or-break opportunities for some of Jose Mourinho's squad—particularly Oscar, who suffered in the second half of 2014/15.

Along with the Brazilian, Bleacher Report identifies some Chelsea players who have a point to prove over the next couple of months.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

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Jose Mourinho had some harsh words for Ruben Loftus-Cheek before the 19-year-old departed for international duty with the England under-21s this summer.

Chelsea had just completed their post-season tour of Australia, and the manager didn't hold back in his criticism of Loftus-Cheek's performance against Sydney FC, per Sky Sports:

"

With Ruben, it’s one step back in terms of my relationship with him. If he doesn’t know what it is to play for me and Chelsea it’s one step back.

He has to learn that at 19 you have to run three times more than the others, you have to play to your limits and not play like a superstar with the ball at your feet because this is not Under-18s.

The Under-18 competition is too easy for him. He’s too good to play in the Under-18s but I don’t accept that when he’s playing in midfield with Mikel and Matic when we don’t have the ball he doesn’t press, doesn’t have intensity and he’s waiting for everybody else to recover the ball.

I don’t accept that in the superstars so how can I accept that in a kid? He has to learn what it takes to play for us.

"

That public dressing-down will be ringing in his ears all summer.

Now Loftus-Cheek must perform for England when he gets his chance, returning to Chelsea for pre-season with renewed vigour to convince Mourinho that the Sydney game was just a blip.

Filipe Luis

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He spent much of the last campaign on the bench, so being included in Brazil's Copa America squad this summer is a godsend for Filipe Luis.

It gives him the chance to get some more games under his belt, and should Luis perform well, it will give Jose Mourinho plenty to consider ahead of the new campaign.

Of course, he needs to play regularly for Brazil this summer in order to do that. Regardless, being involved in a major competition is better for him than relaxing on a beach somewhere.

This summer is a big one for Luis. He's had a year to settle in England, and if Chelsea aren't going to sell him, he'll want to be playing as many games as possible next season.

His rival, Cesar Azpilicueta, isn't in action over the summer, so can Luis catch Mourinho's eye?

Patrick Bamford

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Patrick Bamford has yet to kick a ball in anger for Chelsea, but such has been his form on loan at the likes of MK Dons, Derby County and, more recently, Middlesbrough that there is a groundswell of support for him to be named as Chelsea's third-choice striker for 2015/16.

How convinced is Mourinho that Bamford is ready for that responsibility? The jury's still out on that front.

While Bamford suffered the disappointment of just missing out on Gareth Southgate's 23-man England squad for the Under-21 European championship this summer, there is a silver lining—namely allowing him to recover from the troublesome ankle injury that impacted his form at the end of his 2014/15 season.

There's nothing confirmed yet about where Bamford will play next season, so we can assume he'll be part of Mourinho's squad for the pre-season tour of the U.S.

Under the watchful eye of the manager, Bamford must show he's a better, more mature player than he was at this time last year. He needs to demonstrate to Mourinho that he's developed after his season with Boro and that his natural progression should lead to a chance at Stamford Bridge.

Juan Caudrado

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It was last summer that Juan Cuadrado stole the headlines with his performances for Colombia at the World Cup. He was one of the tournament's best performers and came away with the most assists (4) in Brazil.

It was his World Cup form that got Cuadrado his move to Chelsea. He may have arrived six months after Germany sealed victory over Argentina, but the impact of his summer was still ringing loud in the minds of others.

Since arriving at Chelsea with a big reputation—and an even bigger fee, we must add—Cuadrado has been underwhelming. In fact, he's been a massive disappointment.

Where has that World Cup form gone? Where is the player with the confidence to use his pace to get at players and expose them on the flanks?

Cuadrado has taken a big knock since joining Chelsea and needs to remind Mourinho of what he is capable of.

The Copa America gives him that chance.

Mourinho will be watching closely, as if Cuadrado's poor form continues, the manager will almost certainly have to revisit his decision to sign him.

Chelsea can't afford to be carrying Cuadrado next season. They need him to be performing at that World Cup level.

Oscar

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For the first time in, well, ever, Oscar has the summer off.

Injury has meant he isn't part of the Brazilian squad for the Copa America, and that gives him a couple of months to recuperate—to rest his body.

Since 2012, Oscar has played a full league season and followed it up with a summer tournament for his country.

There were the Olympics, the Confederations Cup and then the World Cup.

For his own sake, missing out on the Copa America couldn't have come at a better time. Oscar vanished from Chelsea's team in their post-Christmas fixtures. Sure, he was in the line-ups, but his contribution was the same as in the previous two campaigns—he gave virtually nothing.

Was it fatigue, a player struggling with the constant schedule of high-profile football?

Time will reveal the answer to that, but with a summer off, Oscar has the opportunity to turn things around and become the player Chelsea need him to be.

If he doesn't, he will have much bigger problems than feeling tired.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.