![Abdul Baba Rahman By Bleiersatz (Diskussion) 10:26, 27. Aug. 2012 (CEST) (Self-photographed) [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en), CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/fb90d4c75c2b88f7c5519e704e4524697b6fc68b7e2c8a93ddc0a42f39294b6e.jpg "Abdul Baba Rahman By Bleiersatz (Diskussion) 10:26, 27. Aug. 2012 (CEST) (Self-photographed) [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en), CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons")
Chelsea FC have finally the announced the signing of Abdul Baba Rahman
Chelsea FC announced the signing of Abdul Baba Rahman from FC Augsburg on Sunday afternoon, in the immediate aftermath of their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
The Ghanaian left back was bought for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of €20million (£14.1million) and will replace Filipe Luis as the only recognised specialist left back in Chelsea’s first team squad.
Jose Mourinho spoke to the club website about the signing, and said that he views Baba Rahman’s arrival as important.
"It is important because he is a left-back, so he can compete with [Cesar] Azpilicueta. At the same time, Azpilicueta can compete with [Branislav] Ivanovic for the right-back position, so he replaces Filipe Luis in the balance of the squad. – via chelseafc.com"
It is notable that Mourinho has mentioned Ivanovic in his welcoming of the new man. The Serbian right back has arguably been our weakest player in this season’s opening games against Swansea and Manchester City and has been rightly criticised by Chelsea fans and pundits alike.
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With Azpilicueta a natural right back, currently plying his trade admirably in the left back position, Mourinho will not have to look far for a capable replacement for Ivanovic. This would conveniently open up the left back slot to be filled by the new man, Rahman. However, it remains to be seen whether the notoriously risk adverse Mourinho would put the Ghanaian straight into the first team.
Rahman has many attributes to help him become a success in the Premier League. At 21 years of age, he already has size and strength in abundance, two key components that Mourinho has shown to favour when building defences past and present. Having previously played as a left sided midfielder and winger, Rahman has shown to be equally capable in attack, where he attempted the most crosses from the left in the Bundesliga last season, as he is in defence where he made the most tackles in the division.
it remains to be seen whether the notoriously risk adverse Mourinho immediately plays Baba
The attacking nature of our new left back should excite Blues fans greatly. Chelsea’s attacks frequently break down at the feet of our full backs in advanced positions. Ivanovic struggles to beat the first man when crossing while Azpilicueta doesn’t trust his weaker foot, instead choosing to cut inside and thus narrowing the play.
Again, switching Azpilicueta to the right back position, where he was regarded as an attacking full back from his time at Marseille, should open more promising opportunities. It would allow the Spaniard to roam past Willian and provide for his teammates with his preferred foot. Rahman, meanwhile, appears to be the ideal acquisition to do the same on the left.
As the loss to Manchester City sufficiently demonstrated, Rahman’s signing comes at a time when our defence is in need of refreshing. With John Terry substituted for the first time under Mourinho, Ivanovic declining at a rapid rate, our pursuit of John Stones well-documented, and the emergence of the improving, yet raw Kurt Zouma; Chelsea’s defence is going to be an interesting subplot to watch over the coming season.
Here’s hoping that Baba Rahman can be one of the main characters.
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