Chelsea: The Blues wanted leadership, and now they’ve got it
Chelsea fans were crying out for more leadership after last season’s rollercoaster ride, well now the Blues have some natural captains.
Last season seems like a lifetime ago after everything we’ve all been through. Chelsea fans all made a checklist for everything they thought their club was missing at the conclusion of the 2019/20 campaign and many supporters’ notes had a bunch of the same things: world class talent, the ability to defend set pieces, sufficient depth and leadership. Cesar Azpilicueta is a darn fine club captain, but he cannot command an entire dressing room by himself.
The Blues addressed all of those prior issues this offseason and now it’s paying dividends. Chelsea brought in world class talent in the form of Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Thiago Silva. The squad worked on set pieces and brought in Anthony Barry to assist. Edouard Mendy, Thiago Silva and the aforementioned additions added depth and leadership emerged. Silva and Azpilicueta put their leadership skills on display for all to see against West Ham, and it made all of the difference in the world.
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There shouldn’t be a single supporter who watched the latest contest and felt comfortable throughout. We’ve all seen this song and dance Chelsea does far too often: the Blues go ahead early and struggle to find the second goal. While they tire themselves out, the other side does just enough to get their foot in the door before busting it down and snatching all three points from Chelsea’s defeated hands. However, that seldom happens this season—at least when compared to last campaign.
It’s no coincidence that in two of the Blues’ most important matches of the season—the comeback at West Brom and the home victory against West Ham—both Azpilicueta and Silva were on the pitch. The two seasoned veterans have that special something, which is indescribable by spectators, but others feed off that energy. Leadership is not all about who can point the most or who can shout the loudest, as some will have you believe. In fact, often times it isn’t vocal at all. Lead by example is a common phrase for a reason, and it’s exactly what Silva and Azpilicueta did against West Ham.
Silva put his body on the line repeatedly throughout the match versus the Hammers. Although he scored the opener with a thundering header, it was other aspects of his game that led to him being named Man of the Match. The 36-year-old Brazilian let David Moyes’ men know they’d have to up their game in order to get by him as he threw himself in front of countless shots, taking blow after blow to his body in order to prevent strikes on target. It took him longer to get up after each slug, but I’m sure he’d be willing to take 100 more in order to seal the victory. This type of energy is felt throughout the Chelsea team and the centerback’s willingness to go the extra mile in the name of victory undoubtedly willed the Blues to a win.
Further, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the day Azpilicueta had. The Spaniard slipped up and made a few mistakes early on, but he quickly recovered each instance. Overall, his hustle and unselfishness defined a heroic performance. Azpilicueta put on a mature showing, one which complemented Silva’s perfectly. He put all of his prior frustrations of being a back-up behind him and fought until the final whistle when called upon; making all of the important tackles, interceptions and passes. The amazing thing is, we wouldn’t expect anything less from our beloved club captain. It’s obvious through his relentless production that he cares for the club and its fans as much as we adore him.
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While the flashy, new signings and set piece excellence will garner much of the attention for the remainder of the season, it’s important to remember the dirty work done by those in the metaphorical—and often unappreciated—trenches. Without the leadership and maturity of Azpilicueta and Silva, nobody truly knows where the Blues would be. Luckily, that’s not something we need to ponder, but instead, that effort should be put towards appreciating the inspiring commanders.