Matic can provide the balance to steady the Blues just two-and-a-half years after being sold.
Chelsea completed their expensive u-turn on Wednesday by finalising the £20.75m transfer of Benfica defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic.
The 25-year-old rejoins the club that the Serbian spent two years at between 2009 and 2011, before moving to Portugal as part of the £25m deal to sign David Luiz.
A lot has changed in two-and-a-half years and ironically it’s likely to be Luiz that loses a spot in the starting XI to accommodate Matic, as although generally considered to be a centre-back, Jose Mourinho has been utilising the Brazilian in a holding midfield role.
After making just three first team appearances for the Blues first time around, the Serbia international has reinvented himself at the Estadio da Luz and is now regarded as one of the finest defensive midfielders on the planet.
Which is perfect for Mourinho, who has tried out five different players in front of the back four this term with only Ramires really impressing.
Stalwart Frank Lampard looks like a player approaching the end of his career and has been sloppy and off the pace more often than expected, whilst John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien have failed to impress.
The arrival of Matic is likely to signal the end of at least one of the Africans, as Essien’s previously spectacular time at Stamford Bridge looks set to fade out with many not even noticing.
Luiz could also be a casualty of the new Mourinho regime, as the boss has doubts over the 26-year-old’s defensive capabilities and Gary Cahill and John Terry are now the preferred partnership at the back.
As for Matic, the midfield ace could be one of the shrewdest signings the west London club have made since Claude Makelele arrived back in 2003.
Like Makelele the Serb will be tasked with protecting the back line by breaking up play and distributing to the vast pool of creative talent within the side.
Yet unlike the Frenchman Matic is a towering and physically imposing figure, who will revel in the combative nature of the Premier League and look to bully opponents.
Arsenal and Manchester City better watch their backs, as Mourinho may well have just secured a title winning signing.
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