Team Focus: Fábregas Signing Addresses Key Flaw at Chelsea
It wasn’t something Jose Mourinho was so willing to touch upon last season, and he certainly didn’t mention it as much as he did the obvious flaws up front. Yet, now that Chelsea have made their major change in the area, the Portuguese was better prepared to discuss the other deciding factor that denied his team the 2013-14 English title. There were not just issues at centre-forward. There were also issues in the very centre of the pitch.
“We want to give the next dimension to our game in midfield,” Mourinho said last week. One less charitable description might be that his midfield has finally gone from a flat 2D to a more modern 3D, let alone any dimension beyond that.
The lack of imagination in his central pairing became painfully apparent in the game that probably most cost Chelsea the league, the 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland.
It certainly brought all of their issues to a head.
Although Mourinho so clearly lacked a main striker to put the ball in the net, he also lacked a midfield director to perceptively put the ball in the unseen dangerous areas when other avenues were closed off.
One stark feature of that game - as well as so many others - was the attacking trident of Eden Hazard and two others trying to make things happen but missing the nuance either in front or behind for their efforts to be consistently productive. They too often hit roadblocks. Those attackers could so often have done with a bit more dynamism either side, in order to alleviate the pressure on them to produce, and to let them hurt teams further forward. Chelsea as a whole, meanwhile, could simply have done with someone to suddenly direct the play.
It is no surprise Mourinho apparently asked for that type of deep midfielder last summer, or that there was initial interest in Xabi Alonso.
The stats make the problems as clear as some of the stagnation of their play. Chelsea attempted fewer through balls in the league last season than relegated Norwich - with an average of 1.4 per game - and far fewer than the rest of the top four.
That is all the more surprising because they focussed a higher proportion of their attacking touches through the middle of the pitch (30%) than any other side except Swansea - at 33%. The figures for individuals go even further.
Most conspicuously, none of Chelsea’s main central midfielders except Nemanja Matic even averaged 0.1 through balls per game, but the Serbian arrived halfway through the campaign and tended to occupy the more defensive role.
It is much the same story for key passes per match, with Chelsea’s central midfielders strikingly far down the list. Oscar, who was afforded the central role in the attacking trident most often, averaged only 1.5 per game and picked up just 2 assists
The problems are implicit, but Mourinho has made his solution explicit: their other high-profile signing this summer.
“[Cesc] Fábregas is the player we need to modify a little bit the profile of our game, which we need,” the Chelsea manager finally admitted.
“Fábregas is this kind of player which I like to call ‘the seven’, because he’s not the six and he’s not the eight. Normally, the seven is the winger. I also call the 7 the guy in the midfield who’s a six and eight at the same time. So he’s a seven and we need him a lot.”
The stats also indicate that Fábregas is capable of providing a great deal, and certainly what Chelsea have lacked. Although he has not really played in that “seven” role since leaving Arsenal for Barcelona in 2011, due to the positioning of the likes of Xavi pushing him further forward, he is evidently adept at it. His figures make some reading.
If the former Arsenal midfielder can replicate anything like the impressive thrust he showed from his time in the centre while playing at the Emirates, then Mourinho has more than resolved his problem. The combination of Matic and Fábregas certainly looks one of the most complete midfield pairings on paper.
It certainly has so much more nuance than a one-dimensional John Obi Mikel alongside a Frank Lampard far off his driving best. Matic provides the range of movement and muscle, Fábregas then offers that next step that was so conspicuous by its absence over 2013-14.
It could well lead to Chelsea making the key step in 2014-15.
Will Fabregas lead Chelsea to Premier League glory this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
With everyone tipping Chelsea as favourites, theyr'e jinxed. However, if they do take the title, it won't solely be because of the addition of Fabregas. They strengthened in a number of positions this summer
Are you writing this article with Cesc in a nbr10 role or nbr4 role? If he is supposed to play in a nbr10 role, why did he sell Mata and is he that much better than Oscar? He offers something differnt to Oscar but Oscar isn't a bad player that should be blamed for their bad attack during 13/14. If you see him playing in a nbr4 role, will his attacking power be greater than the negative effect he will have on the defence? They were solid in defence last year because they played with two holding/strong defencive players and Cesc hardly fits that bill. Gooner
On paper chelsea are the favourite bt i prefer fabregas in the number 10 role
Not necessarily guide them, but he will play a vital role in them winning the title. Costa should thrive with the Spaniard behind him
Cazorla had 0.8 accurate throug balls/game in 2012/2013
Absolutely Fabregas is a fantastic player. Chelsea are the favorite no doubt.
Great article Miguel. I believe the Chelsea rearguard will be too strong, and with Fabregas, Ramires behind Oscar, Hazard, Schurle and Costa that is some scary attack. Chelsea for the title.