Season Preview: Eight into four - A case for the defence.

Jose Mourinho

The Back Four 

Apart from the promotion of Tomas Kalas into the first team squad after his successful loan spell last season, we have the same five players all competing for a first team start. However, as he established early on into pre season, Jose Mourinho has stated on record that he sees Branislav Ivanovic as a right back and in direct competition for a start with Cesar Azpilicueta. It’s an interesting move and one that we will have to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Without question in my view, Cesar Azpilicueta was one of the success stories of last season! It looks like we have finally found someone who can fill the boots of Paulo Ferreira in his first two seasons at Chelsea back in 2004-2005.

Since then and apart from Ivanovic playing there, we never had the right balance down that side with various people in that position. It was almost a case of a square peg into a round role. Azpilicueta came to the club and established himself in that position early on and never looked back.

We have to remember that it does take someone coming into the Premier League from aboard at least a season to settle down and find their feet so it will be of great interest to see how he does this term under Mourinho.

Are there any question marks about him at the moment? If anything, he lacks physical strength in the tackle but more than makes up for it with his pace which is similar to that of Ferreira in his prime. Whether or not he will remain as the number one in that position under Mourinho is yet to be seen.

The reason I am saying this of Azpilicueta is because of Mourinho’s legacy at the Stamford Bridge in his previous spell as our manager. His team was based on solid foundations as we set a Premier League record for the least amount of goals conceded in a season. This is where Ivanovic comes in.

If you compare the two, you instantly see the difference between them. One is quick, nimble and agile whereas the other is of a solid frame and strong. As I said, the statement from Jose of Ivanovic gives a real indication that there is definite competition now down that right hand side.

We have all heard Ivanovic speak of that fact he prefers to play in the middle. For the most part, he has done well there but his lack of pace and mistakes caught him out on more than one occasion last season and cost Chelsea. I immediately think of Manchester United at home giving away the penalty and getting sent off and Swansea with costly mistakes at home in the League Cup Semi Final.

I think if you ask most Chelsea fans of Ivanovic, the majority will tell you he is better at right back so it comes as no surprise Jose feels the same. The fact that Jose likes to build his side on solid foundations could see Ivanovic start as number one at right back!

Gary Cahill is someone that I feel needs to work hard this season to play a part in Jose Mourinho’s first team squad this season (to start with) through no fault of his own. I personally love Cahill and his desire and determination coupled with his defensive qualities. The problem he has is the unknown.

I am sure Jose has watched and studied all of Chelsea’s performances last season throughout all the competitions. I am sure he is “aware” of Cahill but he would have been one of the players he would have been most interested to see train and perform in person.

His ability is immense and I feel that he has developed his game and his positional awareness since he came here. How many times have we seen Cahill make an important block or tackle when we needed someone to? For example, the Europa League final after making a tackle when on the floor, having the awareness to flick the ball away from the striker just yards from goal.

Cahill lives for keeping clean sheets and making tackles. He is “Old school” and of the same mould as your John Terry and Jamie Carragher’s of this world. Whether that’s enough to start with? I don’t know.