Matches against bigger Premier League opposition:
When playing crucial matches, Mourinho traditionally bases his team around a solid core of reliable, hard-working players – and you should expect this season in the Premier League to be no different.
Here’s how the Blues could start in crucial Champions League and Premier League ties this year.
As they will all season, Cech, Luiz and Cole will start for Chelsea, but they will be joined by Cahill and Ivanovic. Cahill is much faster than Terry, and is quickly becoming equally as capable in the air. Ivanovic is a perfect Mourinho player, and a remarkably consistent performer, and will probably start ahead of Azpilicueta for most matches this season anyway.
In midfield, Mourinho could choose the unrivalled work-rate and fitness of Ramires alongside his big game player: Frank Lampard. The 35-year-old midfielder will be used sparingly this year, but will be the first name on Mourinho’s team-sheets for Chelsea’s massive ties.
Instead of deploying three attacking midfielders. Chelsea could use only two, and instead play De Bruyne in a more withdrawn central midfield role. The Dutchman is still capable of getting forward and scoring goals, but is defensively more responsible than Oscar. Out wide, Hazard is Mourinho’s first choice attacker, and will play as much as possible. Schurrle could join him in bigger matches from the left, as he works far harder than Willian would defensively, and also has a greater physical presence.
Mourinho plainly doesn’t rate Mata (for some bizarre reason) so expect the Spaniard to be shipped out of Stamford Bridge at some point in the near future.
Up top, new signing Samuel Eto’o should play big matches. At 32-years-old, he will need to be rotated, but Mourinho trusts him inherently to score goals when given chances – like he did for Inter Milan under the Portuguese boss not too many years ago.
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