Danny Drinkwater will light a fire under Cesc Fabregas in Chelsea’s midfield
By George Perry
The last piece of Chelsea’s summer transfers fell into place against Everton in the Carabao Cup. Danny Drinkwater’s debut is an important step towards strengthening and improving the Blues’ midfield.
Danny Drinkwater completed his injury rehabilitation in time for the perfect debut scenario. Everton presented the chance for him to play against a Premier League team but without the pressures of a Premier League game. Everton played a strong lineup under a caretaker manager, gifting two more fortuitous elements to Drinkwater. He was able to show that he could hold his own against the sort of players Chelsea face weekly, but without having to deal with a tactically cohesive opposition.
His return to play comes when Antonio Conte and Chelsea’s midfield need him most. At this point, the Blues are happy just to have a warm body that can be in the match-day squad. An experienced, competent player is just a bonus.
More importantly, Chelsea need Drinkwater to challenge and rejuvenate Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas’ play in recent games has reverted to the stereotype that he is a one-trick pony. Well, in fairness, a one-trick magical unicorn.
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Fabregas has done little more than attempt one 40-yard over-the-top “Hollywood” pass after another. These were conspicuously unsuccessful when Alvaro Morata was out of the lineup. Michy Batshuayi’s inability to get under and bring down these passes exposed his short-coming as a target man, and Fabregas’ short-coming in adapting his play and experimenting with new passes.
Last season, Fabregas earned his way first off the bench and then onto the pitch by reinventing himself. Antonio Conte threw down the gauntlet on one of Europe’s most talented and decorated players. Fabregas responded by learning how he could bring his abilities to Conte’s plans. Fabregas involved himself more in defence, released quicker passes, moved himself into better positions to pivot play and found creative ways to send in Diego Costa or Eden Hazard.
With the shortage of options availability to Antonio Conte, no one is pressuring Fabregas for his place on the pitch or the match-day squad. Last season he dug deep and thrived under the internal competitions and Conte’s expectations. This season, he has no competition and Conte has little recourse but to play him.
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Danny Drinkwater changes all that. Drinkwater sprayed long, Fabregas-style passes all over the pitch. He made more passes in his 60 minutes on the pitch than any other Chelsea player did in 90 minutes except for Gary Cahill. He was involved in all aspects of play around the midfield. His only limitation was moving into the final third, and that was likely the result of tactical and fitness risk management.
Drinkwater showed that he is ready to resume his partnership with N’Golo Kante, when Kante returns from his injury. They and Tiemoue Bakayoko will force Cesc Fabregas to once again raise his game to find his way into the XI, whether Antonio Conte plays a two- or three-man midfield. Drinkwater, Kante and Bakayoko could very well consign Fabregas to his super-sub role from last season. That is likely not what Fabregas wants, but it is one of the best elements he provides to Chelsea.
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Antonio Conte likes having two-man depth at every position. Drinkwater’s return moves him closer to having that security in midfield. Depth does not only give Conte tactical options and backups when players are injured, but it forces those players to train and play harder to earn their spots. If Chelsea’s midfielders challenge each other to improve, the Blues will have the midfield necessary to challenge in England and Europe.