Can Bertrand Traore or Victor Moses Stake Claims on Chelsea's Right Wing?
With Willian away, contenders come to play.
Resting from his Copa America duties with Brazil, Jose Mourinho's first-choice right-wing option could do nothing about Chelsea's 4-2 pre-season defeat to New York Red Bulls (NYRB) in the International Champions Cup (ICC).
Taking Willian's place in the starting XI were inter-changing wingers Victor Moses and Bertrand Traore, who both showed glimpses of why Mourinho elected to bring them on the Blues' pre-season tour.
Both attackers were on Roman Abramovich's books last season but were plying their respective trades elsewhere.
The Nigerian international enjoyed a largely successful loan spell with Stoke City (after a tumultuous 2013/14 with Liverpool), while the Burkina Faso international (who recently received his work permit) concluded a two-year loan with Chelsea's Dutch partner Vitesse Arnhem.
Not only was Chelsea's Brazilian winger unavailable, Colombian Juan Cuadrado was also given a reprieve. Both South Americans have seemingly firm grips on the right-wing depth chart, but their absence from the ICC's beginning stages might give the players just behind them an opportunity to pounce.
Heading into the 2015/16 season, Mourinho will require a deeper squad than he employed last season.
Though they won the Premier League by an eight-point margin over second-place Manchester City, and 23 points better than fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues still have room for improvement in other competitions.
An unexpected exit from the FA Cup to Bradford City put an end to domestic treble hopes, and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League silenced any murmur of Chelsea's Portuguese manager placing the only missing piece of major silverware he has to earn at Stamford Bridge.
In every position, the current first-team choices are clear.
Thibaut Courtois will have Cesar Azpilicueta, John Terry, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic in front of him. The defence will enjoy having Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas running the game from holding midfield, and they will link with Eden Hazard, Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa in an effort to punish teams on the scoresheet.
Barring a monumental purchase in the remaining weeks of the 2015 summer transfer window, Mourinho's favoured starting XI will be unchanged from 2014/15, but this—while logical—is a dangerous proposition. Without reinforcements of high standard, Chelsea are sure to encounter similar pitfalls in cup competitions in 2015/16.
Normally, many would consider a "domino effect" as starting from the top down. One knocks the first domino and the resulting pattern takes shape. Mourinho, however, must begin his chain reaction from the bottom.
For Willian, and in turn the right side of Chelsea's attack to become productive, there must be a push. Cuadrado is the second-choice right-winger, but after a lacklustre start in west London, the notion of Moses and/or Traore overtaking him is not impossible.
Mourinho governs the defending champions as a meritocracy. Every player in the first-team picture retains his place on the strength of past performances, but a meritocracy, by definition, is fluid. Every game (especially in the pre-season) provides those on the fringe to stake their claims for larger roles once the season commences.
Chelsea's first "domino" in the 2015 pre-season is creating quality, motivated footballers who are outside the starting XI. For every player frustrated at his lack of minutes (see Filipe Luis or Petr Cech), Mourinho must count on self-driven, self-confident team-mates to push the preferred choices.
The first half of Chelsea vs. NYRB showcased four such players.
Kurt Zouma, Loic Remy and the two African wingers seem perfect foils for their respective counterparts; whether they can overtake Mourinho's installed options can only be decided by time.
Retaining one's crown is never an elementary assignment.
Whether on the pitch week-to-week, or in the Premier League season-to-season, those with the crown must do their utmost to keep it attached to their head—because others are coming for the throne.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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