Chelsea’s 2015-16 player of the season Willian is no longer a crucial member of the Blues’ squad. The Brazilian winger’s decline began since his injury, just after the arrival of Antonio Conte last season and his form has continued to deteriorate. He has been completely out of form this season. The former Anzhi Makhachkala man was brought in by Jose Mourinho in a dramatic fashion after the Portuguese tactician stole him from under the nose of Tottenham Hotspur.
Willian’s move was initially a big hit, with the player being the only bright spark in Chelsea’s disastrous 2015-16 season. His pace and dribbling prowesses on the right wing was an important attacking outlet for the Blues when they romped to the title in the 2014-15 season for the third time under Jose Mourinho.
However, ever since the arrival of Antonio Conte, Willian has been unable to repeat his form of old. He paid the price by losing his spot in the first team and things have gone downhill ever since.
Conte has preferred to use Pedro in his place, who, although lacks the brilliance of Willian, has been able to deliver the goods for Chelsea from time to time with crucial goals. As for Willian, with the FIFA World Cup coming up next year, he will want to play regular football if he wishes to be a starter for Brazil at Russia; something that will definitely not be easy with the likes of Jesus, Neymar, Coutinho vying for the attacking places.
It is now being reported that Willian’s old boss, Jose Mourinho, who brought the Brazilian to England, is ready to bring in the playmaker to Old Trafford. Jose wants another winger on his side and given his affinity for players who can perform defensive duties like tracking back, Willian obviously comes high up on his list.
This would be the second player Jose will be trying to sneak out of his former club after poaching Nemanja Matic in the summer from the 2016-17 champions. Matic’s signing has so far been an excellent hit at Manchester and it is likely to encourage the Red Devil’s board to follow through on Jose’s call to chase Willian as well.
Antonio Conte will no doubt have his say about the move with the Italian still unhappy about losing Matic to Manchester United. As for Willian, he might want the move to go through, given the fact that it will give him a new platform to prove himself and that too under a manager whose methods he is familiar with.
