Every successful club needs to have a certain style of play which separates them from the rest of the teams. It is an essential ingredient in the club marking down its system of success just not in the present but setting footprints for the future as well.
Take a look at Barcelona for example. The Nou Camp outfit were always popular and a top club. However, Pep Guardiola’s revolution at Barcelona transformed the team into world-beaters for years to come. They still hold one of the top coveted spots in European football and can master any team with their possession game.
Coming to the club in question here, Chelsea also have a certain style of play which has seen them win every trophy in European football in the last decade. The Blues have varying styles of attackers like the Didier Drogba’s or the Frank Lampard’s of the yesteryears or the Eden Hazard and the Juan Mata’s of the more current scenario. While both sets of attackers have had their ups and downs, what has been constant for any successful Chelsea side is the stability in their backline.
The Blues are known for being physically strong and rock hard to break down at the back. The trend began all the way back in 2004 when Jose Mourinho organized a backline of Petr Cech, William Gallas, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira. It has been 14 years since and every stalwart has been replaced by someone equally good if not better. This quality rear-guard action is what led the Blues to an unlikely Champions League win in 2012. One man who stood out then was new boy Gary Cahill.
The English international was daring with his challenges, fast on the turn and looked more than comfortable of leading the backline. It has been 6 years since Chelsea’s famous win and Gary Cahill is now the club captain and deservingly so for his loyal service. However, what has been noted in the last couple of seasons is the falling standard of the Englishman.
He is no longer able to keep up with strikers, he is vulnerable in every one-v-one situation and has cost Chelsea countless goals on several occasions with his timid defending. He has been replaced on several occasions this season by Chelsea new boy Antonio Rudiger. The German international is technically sound, has a lovely pass on the ball and is physically strong to thrive in the English league.
Although the player is prone to overplaying on occasions and committing some judgmental errors in defence, these are problems the young player can overcome in the coming years with experience. While Cahill’s omission from the first-team will be an emotional one to accept for the Chelsea fans, it can be understood why Antonio Rudiger should be preferred over him.
