5 Areas for Juan Cuadrado to Improve on with Chelsea Next Season
Now that Colombia have exited the Copa America, Juan Cuadrado can look ahead to his next big challenge: turning around his Chelsea career.
We can't talk of there being a resurrection, as that would suggest Cuadrado has actually performed at Stamford Bridge, when we know it has been the complete opposite.
For all the hype surrounding the Colombian winger, his first six months in England were a huge disappointment.
Cuadrado hardly featured for Chelsea as he struggled to settle in an eventual championship-winning team. And when he did, he looked the shadow of the player we had seen at the 2014 World Cup and during his time with Fiorentina.
We know what Cuadrado has in his repertoire, so 2015/16 will be about proving his hellish start at Chelsea is firmly behind him.
What can Cuadrado do to improve at Chelsea next season? We look at five areas.
Show He Can Actually Replace Andre Schurrle
1 of 5
Juan Cuadrado was Jose Mourinho's replacement for Andre Schurrle.
Just as the German was departing Chelsea, Cuadrado was arriving.
Well, did he actually arrive? We haven't seen much of him yet, both figuratively and in physical form.
Changing that must be on top of Cuadrado's list, and he can do it by showing more presence and end product. He needs to get back to basics and do the things that convinced Mourinho to buy him in the first place.
Cuadrado's problem was that he disappeared in every game he played for Chelsea. We can't be sure whether it was a result of trying to adapt to new tactics or a lack of confidence, but the fact remains he proved to be a hindrance in the second half of the campaign.
In the last few months of his Chelsea career, Schurrle wasn't much better. However, leading up to that, the German was a key figure at times. He scored vital goals, got assists and was generally positive.
Nobody is suggesting Cuadrado should be outdoing Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas, but he needs to contribute in the same way Schurrle did when he was on form.
There has been some strong criticism of Cuadrado up to now, with most it warranted.
One argument against that has been his need to settle in England. He's had six months to do that, so there are no excuses now.
Put Up a Better Fight with Willian
2 of 5
As Andre Schurrle's replacement, Juan Cuadrado was, by default, supposed to challenge Willian's place in the Chelsea lineup.
He didn't come close.
In 2015/16, he needs to put more pressure on Willian, otherwise he isn't going to get the game time he needs to rediscover his form and earn the manager's trust.
That was a big issue last season. We've discussed Cuadrado's need to settle in England as a reason for his relative lack of game time, yet equally, Jose Mourinho didn't trust him enough in the big moments.
Too often Mourinho looked to his bench, saw Cuadrado and found himself hindered. If Willian needed a rest or the tactics needed adjusting, Cuadrado was never an option because he wasn't good enough.
Willian is the man blocking Cuadrado's path to the starting lineup. If he doesn't at least compete with his team-mate, his Chelsea career will be over.
Show More Confidence and Desire
3 of 5
We're told—and have seen in the past—that Juan Cuadrado is a winger who likes to get at his opposite number, beat him and create openings for his team-mates.
He has the pace to do this and can also deliver crosses to punish defences.
So far, Cuadrado has done neither at Chelsea.
The closest we have seen to a good performance from him came against Sunderland on the final day of the season—a game in which he was subbed off injured in the first half.
Things have been that bad for Cuadrado that a few penetrating runs against a team that narrowly avoided relegation is being heralded as a sign of what's to come.
That's amplifying things somewhat.
However, Cuadrado must use that Sunderland game to build his confidence.
He was too apprehensive in possession last season, unwilling to take a chance and exploit defences. He always opted for the easy option, passing sideways or backward, giving the initiative to a team-mate instead.
That's not good enough. Chelsea need to be a threat from all areas of the pitch. For Cuadrado to offer something substantial, he needs to play with more confidence and show the desire to get into positions where he can do damage.
He's at Chelsea to create chances for the strikers, and he isn't going to do that by playing on the back foot.
Cuadrado must seize the initiative.
Keep His Head Up When in Possession
4 of 5
There's nothing more frustrating than a winger who has nothing more than pace.
Like Jesus Navas at Manchester City, it means they have one trick: chip and chase. Take away Navas' speed and he isn't the quality of player you'd expect to find at City.
Opponents sit a bit deeper to prevent them from getting in behind, and given their limited abilities elsewhere, they aren't a big threat.
We've seen on international duty and in Serie A that Juan Cuadrado has a bit more guile than that, but he needs to keep his head up when in possession.
It sounds so simple, but Cuadrado would too often have the ball at his feet and rarely take his eye off it.
The image above has been a common occurrence in a Chelsea shirt.
It meant he ran down to many culs-de-sac, rarely made the right passes and only spotted team-mates in good positions when it was too late.
It's the basics of being a footballer and is something that is taught from youth level.
All the best dribblers keep their eyes anywhere but on the ball.
Rediscover His Ability to Assist His Team-Mates
5 of 5
The big appeal of Juan Cuadrado when he signed for Chelsea was his ability to create chances for his team-mates.
At Fiorentina, he picked up 12 assists in the 18 months before his move to Chelsea. At the 2014 World Cup, he was the competition's top-ranked player in this regard with four.
He hasn't registered one at Chelsea yet despite his team-mates scoring 21 goals in the games in which he featured last season.
This is the area where Cuadrado will ultimately be judged a success or failure at Chelsea. He was signed to create goals, and until he does so, the jury will be out.
He needs an end product to justify his place in the Chelsea team.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
