Chelsea FC: Finding the Best Defensive Line-Up
Chelsea’s problems are rooted in the backline.
In just a matter of months, Chelsea FC have gone from a team that prided itself on defensive strength to completely forgetting the meaning of those words. Just ten games into the Premier League season and the Blues have already conceded 19 goals. At this point last season, Chelsea had only conceded nine goals and would go on to concede the 19th goal all the way in January.
This is the club’s worst ever start to a Premier League season and, while Eden Hazard’s struggles are extremely concerning, the improvements need to start at the back.
Last season’s PFA Team of the Year featured six Chelsea players including three of the four starting defenders (how Cesar Azpilicueta didn’t make the team still shocks me). A title-winning defense shouldn’t be able to crumble so quickly, but it has happened right in front of us.
Mourinho needs to get results right away and the first step is finding some stability at the back.
Starting with the fullbacks, the three main options are Branislav Ivanovic, Azpilicueta and Baba Rahman. In addition, we have seen a variety of different players playing at right and left back including Kurt Zouma and Kenedy. Ola Aina is in the squad as well, but it is doubtful Mourinho trusts him enough at this point.
With Ivanovic currently out injured, Zouma has been playing in his position. Even when he is healthy, Ivanovic should be kept on the sideline. His performances this season have been nothing short of shockingly poor and he single-handedly costs the squad goal after goal. The Serbian international has gone from one of the best right backs in the league to becoming a liability.
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Over the past three seasons, Azpilicueta has cemented his role in Mourinho’s eleven because of his versatility. He transitioned seamlessly to left back and his play has led to the departures of both Ashley Cole and Filipe Luis. The Spaniard has often been called one of the best defenders in the league and yet he has not even been playing in his best position. Whenever he plays on the right, we see another, more attack-minded aspect to his game that the squad could certainly benefit from.
The only reason that Azpilicueta hasn’t been playing on the right previously has been Ivanovic’s good form. Now that Ivanovic is committing errors left and right (and is injured), it is time for Azpilicueta to take over and for Baba Rahman to come into the starting lineup.
Pundits were quick to judge the 21-year-old after his debut league performance against Aston Villa, but these comments were a bit too harsh. It isn’t easy to play in the Premier League and he will need some time to adjust. Just last November, he was ranked as the SIXTH best player in the Bundesliga by whoscored.com. Baba has quality to play for Chelsea and it’s crucial that he is given the opportunity to fight for his spot in the lineup.
John Terry, Gary Cahill, and Kurt Zouma have each started seven of the ten league matches this season. The partnership of Terry and Cahill dominated the league last season, but times have now changed. Currently in the middle of a crisis, Chelsea need leadership now more than ever.
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This is why it’s so important for Terry to continue to get starts even though he might have lost some pace. Cahill still deserves to get his share of matches as well, but it should be more of a rotation between them. In Kurt Zouma, Mourinho has one of the best defensive prospects in the world and the only way he reaches his potential is by getting consistent minutes at his true position, not at right back.
If Ivanovic is reintroduced to the starting eleven after his injury, the team will not be able to progress like they should. Simply put, he is not part of Chelsea’s strongest defensive lineup anymore. Baba should be given his opportunity at left back with Azpilicueta moving to his favorite right back position. Zouma needs to be given a majority of the minutes alongside a Terry/Cahill rotation.
A Baba-Terry/Cahill-Zouma-Azpilicueta back four may finally bring some stability to Chelsea’s turbulent season.
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