After just one match into the new Premier League season, there is already so much we can learn from the teams, and what will be the keys for the rest of the campaign. For example, Manchester City looked like quite the force on Monday. They made quick work of West Brom, and will look to threaten Chelsea in their quest to repeat their title as Chelsea did to City last season.
Conversely, the West Londoners looked sluggish and unprepared in their match against Swansea. The Blues were relatively unimaginative and, more importantly, they lacked an identity.
During last campaign, Chelsea’s first half of the season was made up of flashy play, high-paced attacking and tons of goals. However, in the second half of the season, the Blues reverted to Mourinho’s typical pragmatic style of defending first, and breaking out on the counter attack. Both ideologies worked and Chelsea lifted the trophy by the end of it.
So which did we see on Saturday and throughout the preseason? Neither. Chelsea weren’t creative enough on offense. They looked slow, unimaginative and all around unimpressive. While Oscar had several opportunities, Chelsea never really looked as though the would create a lot of chances.
Furthermore, on defense, Chelsea were far from impenetrable. Bafetimbi Gomis was strong in attack, making several strong runs off of Chelsea’s high line, including when he forced Courtois to foul him. Additionally, Swansea’s Montero was exceptional. He made Branislav Ivanovic look like a weak defender, sluggish and unable to compete with the pace of the Ecuadorian.
So with Chelsea failing to find an identity, where does that leave them going forward?
The best way for the Blues to find success is to have options. However, going forward Chelsea lack dimensions. Hazard, who can be direct, typically functions as a wide player who picks out strong passes. Costa bullies his way forward, and Fabregas tends to pick out the both of them. However, other than that, what other options do they have?
We witnessed one of them on Saturday. A healthy, energetic Oscar. He has the potential to be a direct attacker. He is the full package on paper, and that’s the reason that Mourinho chose to build the team around him two years ago. It’s why DeBruyne was shipped off, along with Mata, and why Oscar has left so many people disappointed at times. His inconsistencies in the past have left Chelsea one dimensional and flat.
So what could Oscar add in attack for Chelsea?
Defensively, he’s a very energetic player which allows the Blues to pressure higher up the field. One of the assets that Mourinho employed in his side last campaign was their willingness to win the ball back the second that they conceded possession. That was a necessity in their title run. And a major part of that was Oscar. Chelsea’s ability to press high up the field, is key to their success. But Oscar adds so much to the side than defensive presence. Although that is one of the major factors that allowed Mourinho to sell Juan Mata.
Oscar can be the direct presence that Chelsea need. While a great distributor of the ball, Oscar also has the willingness to take defenders on and look to shoot. The Brazilian is attributed with a great strike, and the knowledge of how to hit a ball. This is vital for a player with the attacking sense to be direct.
Oscar will be key to Chelsea’s campaign. They will need another type of attacker to provide them with options going forward. This is where Oscar comes in.
This campaign should be a coming out party for him. The first key to his success will be his consistency, including staying healthy. He’ll need to keep up his strong performances throughout the entirety of the season.
Furthermore, his creativity will be on display for all of the Premier League. He will be a major player in Chelsea’s title defense.
With Jose Mourinho’s refusal to add reinforcements, especially on the attacking side of the ball, players like Oscar will be key in Chelsea’s campaign. Hopefully, they are able to add a few more pieces before the transfer window slams shut. Regardless of further moves however, Oscar will be a key fixture for Chelsea throughout this season.
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