Cesc Fabregas came on in the 71st minute against Hull City as part of a double substitution. For the final 20 minutes of the match, he played a nearly perfect game statistically and tactically to secure Chelsea’s win.
Cesc Fabregas watched from the bench as Hull City parked nearly their entire team behind the ball to stymie Chelsea’s offence. Diego Costa received little service from his midfielders as Hull clogged Chelsea’s passing lanes. Pedro and Eden Hazard further isolated their striker by being ineffective on the wings.
Within seconds of coming on, Fabregas was sizing up Hull’s defence to find the passes that no one else can see. Ten minutes after taking the pitch, his inch-perfect free kick set up Gary Cahill’s goal to clinch Chelsea’s win.
Fabregas finished the game with 100% pass completion: 24 for 24. Add the assist on Cahill’s goal and winning both tackles he attempted, and Fabregas had a nearly perfect substitute appearance.
All of which leads one to question: Why was Fabregas not in the starting XI?
Hull City is the kind of team that seems ideal for a Fabregas start. Particularly against Chelsea they can be expected to sit deep, minimally press or attack and hope to maybe nick a goal. As well as Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante played, they were almost surplus to Chelsea’s requirements. Either of them could have adequately shut down Hull, while the other could make way for Fabregas’ creativity and vision.
"Nemanja Matic is a good passer in his own way, but he can’t replicate – no one can replicate – what Cesc Fabregas does when he is on the field… When Chelsea’s wingers play as poorly as they did today, we need Fabregas. – Travis Tyler, The Blue Lions"
Antonio Conte may have started Matic and Kante to ensure they are sharp for the upcoming games against Liverpool and Arsenal. Chelsea will need 90 minutes of Matic’s and Kante’s disruption in midfield far more than moments of brilliance from Fabregas to topple two top-four teams.
Conte will likely want to rest either or both players against Brentford in the FA Cup this weekend. However, he would not want them to go up against Liverpool having had two weekends without playing. Conte may have been thinking more about the upcoming opponents than the immediate opponent when he put this pair on his team sheet.
Every time Cesc Fabregas plays he makes the case for Chelsea to switch to a 3-5-2. Matic and Kante would provide solid protection for him to create while absolving him of defensive responsibilities. With the holding midfielders flanking or just behind Fabregas, the Spaniard can spend his days serving precisely targeted passes to Costa, Eden Hazard or another striker TBD.
Next: Three takeaways as Chelsea extend lead with win over Hull
But until that day comes, Fabregas will have to content himself (and us) with perfection wherever and whenever he has the chance to create it.