4 Areas for Chelsea's Oscar to Improve in 2015/16 Season

Chelsea's pre-season officially started this week as Jose Mourinho and his players jetted off to North America to begin their tour.

Chelsea will compete in the International Champions Cup, facing New York Red Bulls, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, returning to England in August, where they will play Fiorentina.

Pre-season is a vital part of any team's preparations for the upcoming campaign, allowing players to rediscover their fitness and iron out any issues from the past year.

With that in mind, Chelsea midfielder Oscar will have plenty to work on while the Blues are stateside.

The Brazilian has an abundance of talent, but as we saw again in 2014/15, he needs to improve in some key areas if he's to be considered a truly world-class talent.

Too often Oscar was found wanting, and it meant Chelsea weren't as free-flowing as their manager would have hoped.

The next 12 months have a make-or-break feel to them where Oscar is concerned.

So what can he do to turn the tide?

Bleacher Report identifies some key areas for improvement.

Score More Goals

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

When Eden Hazard is beginning to make a habit of scoring goals in the high teens, it raises the bar for Chelsea's other attacking midfielders.

Oscar's game isn't just about his attacking threat. He offers something extra to Jose Mourinho's side, but playing in that No. 10 role, the Brazilian needs to be more prolific in front of goal.

Last season, he scored just seven goals in all competitions for Chelsea, which is a concern. It means that in each of his three seasons at Stamford Bridge, Oscar's goal return has declined.

In his debut season, Oscar scored 12, and he followed that up with 11 in 2013/14. Last season's effort was his worst yet.

He needs to rediscover the form that saw him giving more to Chelsea going forward, as successful teams in the modern era rely on much more than goal-machine strikers.

When it comes down to it, football is about who scores the most goals to win matches, and right now, Oscar isn't doing enough for Chelsea.

Provide More Assists

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

In a similar category to his goal return, Oscar needs to be more effective in the final third when it comes to assisting his team-mates.

In the same way Eden Hazard's goals have changed the complexion of what is expected from Chelsea's attacking midfielders, Cesc Fabregas' serial assist-making last term raised the bar.

The Spaniard ended 2014/15 with an incredible 22 assists to his name. In contrast, Oscar finished with less than half that total.

Among his tally of nine assists was an exquisite backheel that set Hazard free to score against Manchester United—a goal that won Chelsea the game 1-0.

Those moments of genius were too few and far between. Oscar needs to add that to his game to contribute to everything Chelsea achieve in attack.

Playing as the No. 10, it's a responsibility that comes with the territory. He needs to be the creative hub.

Be More Consistent

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

It sounds like such a simple improvement to make to a player's game, yet in reality, finding consistency is often the most difficult.

As we've previously discussed, Oscar's talents aren't up for debate. We know he's an exceptional player, but only when he wants to be.

He can disappear from games too often and have little impact.

The Brazilian needs to pick up the intensity and show up more frequently when it matters. Come the end of last season, Chelsea were relying on Eden Hazard too often.

The Belgian was proving the difference in too many matches, with other creative players such as Oscar seemingly happy to let him take on the mantle.

If Oscar can consistently impress in the No. 10 role for Chelsea, he has the ability to transform this team.

Last the Entire Season

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Now that he's had the summer off, the focus is on whether Oscar can last an entire season.

Until now he's been involved in the Olympics, Confederations Cup and World Cup for the past few summers, playing for the better part of three years without a sufficient break.

That must have taken a toll on Oscar's state of mind, let alone his body.

When Christmas comes, however, if his form tails off in the same way it has done these past three years, big questions will remain about his suitability for English football.

Chelsea can't afford to have such a key player disappear in the business end of the season, not when they're hoping to challenge for major honours such as the Champions League.

Those are the times when the big names earn their wages.

Equally, Jose Mourinho needs to help manage Oscar's playing time in order to ensure he can be in peak condition come March.

Does that mean he doesn't feature so frequently in the first half of the campaign? Will he need to accept squad rotation? Should he be given a midseason break for some downtime?

Something's got to give, as Oscar's disappearing act come January needs to stop.

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