Chelsea: World-class brilliance is abundant in the team’s spine

Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva

Kurt Zouma has been a member of Chelsea since 2013. That’s a while. His up-and-down career for the Blues in their merry-go-round of managers and his interrupting loan spells have made his tenure at the club a challenge. Yet, under Lampard, the 26-year-old is now beginning to achieve the heights of play that have been hoped for and anticipated all those years. Zouma, as an article asserted, is nailing down a starting position opposite Thiago Silva for the Blues and making it his own.

Zouma has size, strength, and toughness that has been essentially lacking overall in Chelsea’s central defense since the departures of John Terry and Gary Cahill. Not that he’s necessarily the enforcer type that the club could still use in a third rotational central defender. But he offers both skill and toughness and is a master in the air for the Blues. Not only is the Blues’ best in the air, but “Air Zouma” is one of the best in the Premier League and the world now.

He’s evolved from just a willing and high percentage winner of aerial duels to a locked-in scorer on corner kicks, as well. That latter skill is a new edition to his repertoire and speaks highly for the young Frenchman. It indicates clearly that improving his game on an ongoing basis is important to the young central defender. That shows not only a desire to excel but great determination and outstanding character as well. It’s a terrific attribute and will help make the young defender one of the best in the Premier League in the coming seasons. A contract extension is well-deserved. Jose Mourinho wouldn’t have been so interested otherwise, now would he? Thankfully, his entreaties were rejected by Lampard and the Blues.

Lastly, let’s discuss Thiago Silva. It was strongly suggested or even “voted” that Silva’s addition would be an excellent one to a Blue’s squad bereft of a real leader in central defense. Why not? The former PSG Captain had won numerous titles at the Parisian monster and another with AC Milan prior. He’s a mega-winner and his addition to the Chelsea defense was just what the rather floundering central defense needed to add grit, experience, and above-all uber-talent to the spine of the defense. And to add a cherry on top of the cake, he came over on a Bosman to boot.

This is one of the top transfers of the 2020 summer window, if not many others, as well. You just can’t secure the talents of such players often. Especially for no transfer fee. Hats off to the Chelsea hierarchy for making this happen. It’s made a world of difference in the Chelsea backline. When Silva plays, he manages the backline and the rest of the defense and has already opened his account for Chelsea with a brilliant header from a cross from the magnificent talent, Hakim Ziyech against Sheffield.

A recent article suggested he should retire with Chelsea. That’s a great idea. Who can argue with an extension for the Brazilian master? With measured player-management, and his dedication to his own conditioning and fitness, why can’t Silva play for another three years after this season? There’s no reason why not. But his time on the pitch must be judiciously managed. Those like this writer who suggested adding another top central defender have been criticized since Chelsea has numbers at the position. It says here that numbers are fine, but world-class quality, as is evident with Silva, means wins.

Criticize as they will, but adding another top central defender (whether on the squad, in the Academy, or from outside) to rotate into the team with Silva and Zouma makes perfect sense. There will be plenty of minutes for all. Silva’s time with the team will be extended due to good man-management. And, the third defender will step in for Silva when he ultimately decides to hang up his boots. That third top-flight central defender is unquestionably necessary.

So that’s a discussion of the spine, the truly outstanding, world-class middle of Chelsea’s squad at the moment. Coupled with the amazingly talented right, the young and superlative quality on the left, it presages great success for the Blues going forward, if they can get fit, and stay fit. As always, the great equalizer is injury. Liverpool achieved greatness last season while maintaining fitness. Hopefully, the Blues can do the same. With an addition or two in January, a near-totally fit Chelsea team can very likely compete for championships. Any of them. Let’s see what eventuates. But don’t sell the Blues short. The quality, that’s world-class quality, is there.