The Curious Case of Chelsea's Strikers

Is Diego Costa any better than Chelsea’s flopped strikers?

Chelsea is one of the only two teams left to have a maximum of 9 points from the first 3 games. Yes, it was contributed by Diego Costa’s consecutive goals in all those matches. But in truth, Cesc Fabregas was the real reason why Chelsea have managed to win those matches and scoring happily. It doesn’t matter of how many creative midfielders a team has; the strikers need the supply and assist from them to score goals. That was the case happened to Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Samuel Eto’o and many other Chelsea’s flopped forwards. The midfielders didn’t help them enough. By playing with just one striker as always, Chelsea previously don’t have a midfielder that can supply decent balls for the strikers to score. Torres, Ba, and Eto’o often had to wait in the penalty box for any loose ball rebounded from the opposition goalkeeper to score. It was really rare to see Torres, Ba, and Eto’o last season in a one-and-one situation to score. Frank Lampard was a box-to box type of midfielder, where he will also be in the penalty box to score. No chance of supply from him there. Oscar loved to shoot from distance and even dribbled past defenders before finally shooting the ball to the opposition goalkeeper. No chance of supply from him there. Ramires loved to run with the ball too. Again, no chance of supply from him there! Eden Hazard loved to dribble with speed from the left flank before shooting or else, he will drag the ball back and pass it to the Chelsea’s left back if spaces were tight. Another zero chance of supply from him there. Then Willian was another one who rarely supplies the ball to the strikers. Chelsea’s flopped strikers were not the only one to blame for the team’s lack of goals from the top position.

With Fabregas, Chelsea now has a midfielder of world-class ability in passing the ball into the danger area. If looked into most of Chelsea’s goals this season, Fabregas was the regular supplier of the through ball that lead to the goals scored. He showed his tremendous ability in spotting the best possible position for Diego Costa and Andre Schurrle to score. And incredibly, Fabregas did that in just a split second. The perfect timing is the real difference where Chelsea often exploited the defensive weakness of their oppositions. Jose Mourinho is a genius. If he just brought Diego Costa, he will get the same problem he has faced before with those of Torres, Ba, and Eto’o. He always knew that Cesc Fabregas is not a Frank Lampard’s replacement. Fabregas is more than that. Fabregas will not score a lot of goals that Lampard had, but he will register more assists than what Lampard had. And more importantly, Fabregas can make Chelsea’s strikers more lethal than ever in front of goal. Fabregas’ best position is at the heart of midfield, not as a ‘false no 9’ at Barcelona and Spain. At Chelsea, he was the Arsenal’s Fabregas of old. He likes to receive the ball and dictate play from the center, because he is a player with an eagle’s eye. If all Torres, Ba, and Eto’o had decided to stay this season with Chelsea, they will surely benefit from Fabregas’ presence. Just like Diego Costa did…