WHAT WE LEARNED FROM YESTERDAYS GAME. Should Ramires play on the wing? The Brazilian was strangely subdued for long spells in a central role against Galatasaray, with Frank Lampard the Blues star man in midfield against the likes of Felipe Melo and Wesley Sneijder. Ramires was infuriatingly wasteful in possession of the ball and showed none of the usual energy so commonly associated with his powerful, all-action modus operandi. Mourinho was handicapped slightly by the absence of Nemanja Matic, who was cup tied having played for Benfica earlier in the competition, but it made you question whether or not Ramires is best suited to one of the three positions directly behind the spearhead of the 4-2-3-1 formation. He has played regularly on the right flank this season, particularly when Mourinho has adopted a more cautious approach and it could be a ploy which is replicated to secure the right results in Europe. Hazard just gets better and better Eden Hazards stock continues to rise apace after another dazzling showing to down a desperate Galatasaray side. The space handed to the Chelsea man by the Turks was enough to allow him to try out some new tricks but he exploited the visitors time and time again. One second-half burst from left-wing to right had numerous defenders on their backsides with no-one able to halt him in his stride and his decision- making in dangerous positions is second to none. The Belgian will be vital, you sense, if Chelsea harbour aspirations of winning the competition. Even reaching the latter stages would represent a significant feat such is the devastating form from the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and PSG in particular. While those three have multiple matchwinners, Chelsea are becoming increasingly reliant on one. That should not detract, though, from the majesty of Hazards level right now. article continues below Etoo stakes a claim for striking spot Samuel Etoo has had to deal with jibes about his age and contend with occasionally watching on as Fernando Torres continues to flounder in front of goal. Etoo took no time in getting on with the job this time around, showing clever, sharp movement to escape his marker and fire home from Oscars pass. All night long he dragged Aurelien Chedjou around and opened up room for the triumvirate behind him to wreak havoc on a weary-looking Gala backline. He may be ageing but he showed a distinct maturity in staying onside to grab his opener in style and led the line in such an authoritative manner, one sadly lacking when Torres is in control of Chelseas attacking destiny. Azpilicueta - the bastion of consistency The demotion and subsequent exit of Juan Mata raised enough eyebrows around Stamford Bridge. To then marginalise another fans favourite in Ashley Cole had Chelsea fans genuinely questioning Jose Mourinhos wisdom. While Mata and Cole still remain fondly in the hearts of the Stamford Bridge faithful, the performances of Cesar Azpilicueta - in filling in for the latter - have been enough to cope with the England internationals absence. Azpilicueta was dependable as ever defensively but also showed his worth in the forward third of the pitch too, overlapping Hazard at will as he exploited the woeful showing of the away side and utilised the space afforded to him as he proved he is more than just Mr Reliable at the back. A lack of potency could hurt Champions League hopes From a defensive perspective, there is no reason why this Chelsea side cannot go on to emulate the achievements of Roberto Di Matteos Blues side from two seasons ago. That same side relied on a water- tight backline which formed the basis of a counter-attacking style, one that came in handy in seeing off Barcelona at the Nou Camp en route to an inaugural title in Europes premier competition. It is a blueprint Mourinho knows all too well having utilised it to most effect with Inter Milan in the Champions League but the concerns lie with the Blues firepower and whether it matches up with the best of the rest in the tournament. The reliance on Hazard in particular currently could come back to haunt Chelsea, especially when you consider the embarrassment of riches available to the Bayerns, Reals and Barcas of this world. What did you think of Chelseas display against Galatasaray?
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:19:12 +0000
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