Jose Mourinho’s best starting XI at Chelsea?
Jose Mourinho during a training session prior to the UEFA Super Cup match between FC Bayern Munich and Chelsea at Stadion Eden on August 29, 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Getty Images)
With the transfer window shut, what does Jose Mourinho sees as Chelsea’s strongest XI for the rest of the 2013/2014 season.
This will not be easy as Chelsea have recruited heavily in the midfield and attacking midfield areas meaning he is spoilt for choice.
So far we have only had a few games but seen some interesting selections from Mourinho, who has started with three different striker combinations and a handful of players in the attacking midfield.
Will this be Mourinho’s first choice XI?
We have had two big games and here are the lineups that Mourinho has chosen against Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
The staring eleven versus Manchester United (L) and Bayern Munich (R)
As you can see defensively things have stayed the same with Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz are not yet fully fit. Hence Branislav Ivanovic has started on the right and Gary Cahill in the middle.
Goalkeeper
Petr Cech is the first name on the team sheet.
Defence
On the left hand side of defence, Ashley Cole is clear first choice whilst at right-back there is a choice between Cesar Azpilicueta and Ivanovic with it unclear who Mourinho will favour.
Centrally, David Luiz and John Terry should become Mourinho’s first choice centre-back pairing with rotation giving Cahill and Ivanovic plenty of opportunities.
Midfield
Frank Lampard and Ramires seem to be the preferred central midfield partnership with Marco van Ginkel, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel available in support.
The toughest choice for Mourinho will be the combination to play in the attacking midfield positions with Andre Schurrle, Oscar, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and WIllian all competing for three starting positions.
Mourinho has been aided slightly by tiredness from Mata that has allowed him to rest our player of the season. However, the arrival of Willian is likely to make that even harder.
We will see a lot of rotation but one would hope that the “Mazecar” trio of Mata, Hazard and Oscar as our strongest XI but with the signing of Willian, Mourinho could see him as the key.
Strikers
After failing to secure a big name striker Mourinho lured Samuel Eto’o to Stamford Bridge to add his pedigree to our attacking options.
We have Demba Ba, Fernando Torres and Eto’o and it is likely the Cameroonian will be first choice. And given his pedigree, it is likely he sought assurances before signing, so we could see Ba and Torres sidelined by Mourinho.