Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly is reportedly set for a summer switch with Arsenal and Chelsea both placed on alert. It was widely known that Koulibaly was one of Chelsea’s primary targets in the last transfer window but Napoli’s incredible financial demands for the player put off the West London side from signing the defender.
Chelsea 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 It has been 14 years since and every stalwart has been replaced by someone equally good if not better.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.
Currently, the club hosts defenders like David Luiz, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpiliceuta, Gary Cahill and Antonio Rudiger. Cahill 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.
As for Luiz, the unpredictable Brazilian has been blessed with an abundance of talent but harnessing it on a daily basis remains a matter of major dilemma for him. On his day, Luiz is not just a defender who can wall the goal with incessant ease but also storm into the opposition half and unleash a screamer into the back of the net. However, on his off days, he is best described by Gary Neville as a “PlayStation defender”.
Luiz’s first spell in England saw the Brazilian winning two European cups and then he ended up leaving after losing his first-team spot under Mourinho. He was brought back on the transfer deadline day last summer by Antonio Conte and many described the signing as a panic buy that was bound to fail.
However, Conte worked his magic on the ill-disciplined Brazilian and changed him into a star defender. He had his best season under the Italian and was a mainstay in the mean Chelsea defence that went on to win the title. The new season has not gone well for the Brazilian but and he has been replaced by young Andreas Christensen in the starting line-up. Christensen is probably the only second player after John Terry to rise through the club ranks and the only one in Emanelo’s ten-year tenure at the club.
The young Dan is a tipped to be a future great for Chelsea and is now a mainstay in the Chelsea defence. The last man in the Chelsea backline and perhaps the best of them all is Cesar Azpilicueta. The Spaniard’s improvement has been a story of great inspiration in football. He is now perhaps the best one-v-one defender in the English league and has shown enough versatility to play anywhere across the backline.
This would mean that Chelsea’s pursuit of Koulibaly would be to replace Cahill. Koulibaly has been in excellent form for the last few seasons and could add serious weight to the Chelsea defence if signed. He has the strength and the technicality to play in England and could prove to be a vital asset to the Chelsea defence.
However, what remains to be seen is whether Chelsea will pay such a great price for a man who is yet to prove himself in the long-term.
