Chelsea FC is reportedly preparing to give Branislav Ivanovic a contract extension or at least preparing to enter in to discussions with the defender. Ivanovic has been at the club since 2008 and has made over 220 appearances for the Blues but his time at Stamford Bridge should be coming to an end.
Branislav Ivanovic has been one of Chelsea’s worst performers this season in a long list of players who have not been playing up to their usual standard. He has been torn apart by pacey wingers and has done little to contribute in attack either. The cracks in his game began to show last season as he was exposed time and time again but was still contributing to the attack with timely goals.
His goal against Liverpool in the League Cup semifinals was the epitome of clutch and his header against PSG was typical of his play in big games. He also helped the Blues clinch the Premier League with his fantastic winner against Aston Villa. Those three goals were just a few of the many big goals he has scored for the club in his long and storied career but past performance is no indicator of future success, especially in the case of a 31-year-old fullback.
Ivanovic has never been a pacey player as he is more of a natural centerback. Now that lack of pace has become even more exposed as he has clearly lost a yard or two of pace in recent years. His positioning and technique has also come in to question as he is often too far upfield to recover as a defender and that is when his lack of pace becomes all the more glaring. Every great player eventually runs in to Father Time and Ivanovic is losing that battle.
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The only way that Ivanovic could extend his career with Chelsea FC is if he returns to his original position of centerback. Pace is still important there but that can be compensated with positioning and technique as we have seen John Terry do for the majority of his career. Even if he does move to central defense, the Serbian may not be a better option than the talent Chelsea has waiting in the wings.
At fullback, there are options in Tomas Kalas and of course Cesar Azpilicueta who is a natural rightback. Kalas is on loan at Middlesbrough but has done well when he is in a Chelsea shirt. Azpilicueta has been and still is one of the best defenders in England and could shine even brighter if placed back in his natural position. There is also Ola Aina waiting in the wings even if he still has a few years before he can be trusted at the Premier League level.
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Kalas is also capable of playing at center back and his fellow loanee Andreas Christensen should be given a chance in a Chelsea shirt very soon. Christensen is currently on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach and he has already made 14 starts for the Bundesliga club. Those 14 starts include three in the Champions League where he has looked the part against heavy hitters Manchester City and Juventus.
With all of that talent waiting in the wings and Branislav Ivanovic so clearly on the decline, the Blues would be foolish to offer him an extension. He has done his part for the Blues, helping them win several trophies and scoring big goals, but the time has come for him to move on to another club.
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The criticism against him may be exaggerated because of how poorly the entire team is playing but there is no denying that he has been one of the worst players in a Chelsea shirt this season. If the Blues make the right decision then this season will be his last at Stamford Bridge.