Is Cesc Fabregas' Magic Hat No Longer Relevant at Chelsea?
Chelsea's victory over Porto sent out a big message this week.
It told us that Jose Mourinho's side shouldn't be written off just yet. Yes, they've been bad, very bad, but there will a come a point this season when they have a say in the major honours.
It's looking difficult—impossible some would say—in the Premier League. The UEFA Champions League and FA Cup are different beasts altogether.
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Chelsea were the best we have seen them in this campaign against Porto. They looked like a Mourinho team for one, even though issues were still plentiful.
One of those wasn't on the pitch, rather in the dugout. The shadow of Cesc Fabregas loomed large—not because his replacement for the evening Ramires is an inferior player, but more because it showed how Fabregas has grown to limit this Chelsea side.
That magic hat Chelsea fans like to sing about has grown more to resemble a dunce's.
Let's step back for a moment and acknowledge what that actually means. It sounds hypercritical of the Spaniard, although the sentiment should be taken as rather the opposite.
Fabregas remains a wonderful player, and when utilised properly, he's one the biggest assets Mourinho has at his disposal.
This Chelsea team doesn't have a playmaker like him. He combines defence and attack when Chelsea are getting at teams and has the sort of craft to unlock a tight rearguard.
We saw it all last term.
Indeed, Fabregas was a major reason for Chelsea winning the title in the manner they did. Games where they would have dropped points 12 months earlier were becoming victories because of Fabregas' influence.
If he wasn't supplying important goals, Fabregas was scoring them. He did exactly that against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in April when the relegation-threatened Hoops had dug in to frustrate Chelsea's title charge.
Mourinho's men hadn't had a shot on target all game until Fabregas linked up well with Oscar and Eden Hazard to fire them in front in the 88th minute.
If Chelsea were looking edgy heading in the final few weeks, Fabregas ended the debate about whether they had the mettle to cope with expectation.
Within three weeks, they were Premier League champions.
In the here and now, though, playing him in that anchor role alongside Nemanja Matic just isn't working, and the Porto game outlined why.
Chelsea's energy on Wednesday evening was impressive. For once they played like the home side and didn't allow the opposition to build any sort of platform.
The opening 10 minutes set the tone, and they maintained it. Just four days earlier, it was a similar story in the early exchanges against Bournemouth. Chelsea couldn't maintain that pace, and as they dropped off, their opponents came into the game more.
The contrast with the Bournemouth and Porto performances was clear. Chelsea maintained pressure in the latter because of that Matic-Ramires combination in the middle.
"Last year, [Fabregas] had a huge responsibility for the quality of our team, he was fundamental," Mourinho said in his Friday press conference ahead of Chelsea's trip to Leicester City on Monday evening.
"This season, he is at the same level as the team, and it is difficult to play especially well. If you go player by player, last season—Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry—you could say were fantastic.
"This season, it is more difficult to say this player is being magnificent [...] I don’t see Cesc differently, but what I see is that every minute the professionalism is there, and he is never afraid to have the ball or to be afraid to make a mistake. I completely trust him."
Mourinho's observations were as valid as they were interesting. He wasn't talking about Fabregas' defensive capabilities, more what he offers with the ball.
It's how Mourinho must consider him moving forward. Teams have worked Chelsea out, and in order to get the best from Fabregas, the system needs refreshing.
On paper, it looked similar against Porto to what we've seen all season from Chelsea—although the personnel ensured it wasn't.
For too long, Fabregas has been asked to play a role that he hasn't at any time in his career. He's not a tackler or a box-to-box midfielder, and opponents know it.
He's at his best when he's dictating the flow of matches, which Fabregas can't do when he's looking over his shoulder at runners behind him or when he's being forced to attempt more tackles than passes.
Put Fabregas further up the field and then see what he can do. England know all too well about that after his display in November carved open Roy Hodgson's defence in a 2-1 win for Spain.
Fabregas was involved in both goals and looked a completely different player for his country.
Now's the time for something similar to happen at Chelsea. And when it does, the magic will return.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.
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