This summer, an expensive striker signed for Chelsea from Marseille. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The exact same thing happened with Didier Drogba 12 years ago, and the rest is history. Michy Batshuayi has all the credentials to replicate the success that the Ivorian achieved for the West London club.
There is always going to be pressure on your shoulders regardless of the economic climate when £33.2million is paid to acquire your services, and although it’s early days, it would appear that the deal was worth every penny spent.
Both West Ham and Crystal Palace were heavily interested in signing the 22-year-old, but Chelsea were the lucky winners in the end and the rewards are already reaping.
Chelsea’s Premier League opener against West Ham saw them control the game but struggle to break the Hammers down. New manager Antonio Conte, who will get the best out of Batshuayi, brought the striker on with just minutes remaining and he set up Diego Costa for the last gasp winner. He is willing to do his job for the team regardless of whether it’s him who puts the ball in the back of the net or not.
The second league game saw him come on as a substitute once again against Watford and he got his first goal for the club. It was a goal that did not require any skill, but he was in the right place at the right time. A poacher. His positioning was no coincidence – Batshuayi knows that there’s a chance that the ball can be spilt anywhere at any time. He lashes it home and Chelsea go on to win the game. How many times have we seen Drogba do that? Numerous.
Conte rewarded the Belgian with his first start in yesterday’s EFL Cup tie against Bristol Rovers. Granted, the opposition is not as strong as the Premier League, but they were an unknown quantity. He scores two goals and effectively wins his team the game.
However, there are elements of Batshuayi’s game that would perhaps suggest that he has the potential to be even better than the Ivory Coast international. As he is a little bit shorter, his pace can be used to greater effect than Drogba, who often used his strength to make himself some space.
On the other hand, Batshuayi has several characteristics that are similar to that of Drogba. His sheer strength already keeps defenders panicking when battling for the ball; you know you’ve got a battle on your hands every time the ball comes to his feet.
The number 23 also has a similar technical ability, and there is no doubting that comparisons between the two will be continuously made as time goes on.
