Juan Mata is an incredible talent. The Spaniard scored 20 goals for Chelsea last season and claimed their Player of the Year award, so you’d think that he’d be a major player this season. However, since the arrival of Jose Mourinho it seems as though the 25-year-old may not be in his plans. As well as signing Andre Schurrle, regaining the services of Kevin de Bruyne after his loan spell at Werder Bremen and supposedly agreeing a deal for Brazilian Willian, the Mirror are reporting that Porto wide man Christian Atsu. But where would he fit in should he arrive at Stamford Bridge?
Against Manchester United on Monday Mourinho lined his side up without a recognised striker, such was the wealth of quality he has to choose from in the attacking midfielder role. Schurrle started the game up top, but he’s traditionally a left winger, the same as Atsu.
Chelsea have Oscar who plays on the right, and Eden Hazard who plays anywhere across the attacking line, while Marco van Ginkel, Frank Lampard and Victor Moses are also able to play in the attacking roles, although Lampard perhaps not the wider berths.
Football tactics are evolving rapidly, and it seems as though if your team aren’t interchanging with one another then you’re doing it wrong. So, should Atsu come into the club, and Mata goes out – as the national media are suggesting – then the strongest three attackers, in my opinion, would be Willian, Hazard and Oscar, with Atsu, de Bruyne and Schurrle in reserve.
A special squad for a the Special One.