Football is in some ways similar to an academic field. Where theoretical physicists have Sir Isaac Newton or Albert Einstein, in football we have men like Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho.
These coaches can envision ways to improve sides that are already good. They have their own theories and ways of conducting their daily business, but like all geniuses their work is always a masterpiece.
When Mourinho made his long awaited return to Chelsea, he inherited a side that was on its way to imitate Barcelona. From Andre villas Boas’s project to Roberto Di Matteo’s brief reign, Chelsea were – at Roman Abramovich’s demand – going for exciting players.
Even centre-backs Gary Cahill and David Luiz are both technically gifted and quick for their position. They were tipped to be key in playing a high defensive line, squeezing the play to the opponent’s half.
John Obi Mikel, an efficient, economic passer, was the main holding midfielder. They also added flair players like Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar to play behind the main striker.
Of all these players, Juan Mata, the “El Matador”, was the main man. He was Chelsea’s player of the season for the last two campaigns and he was the fans’ favourite player for a reason. The team was built around him.
He is a lot like Andres Iniesta, his Spain team-mate; they are both incredible in tight situations, they have very high passing accuracy for players who do most of their work in the final third of the pitch and they both perform better playing free roles. For all Mata’s playmaking brilliance, he lacks pace to affect the game in a cautious team.
Mourinho inherited a dilemma: he knew that the style of play he intended to implement would not suit the existing talisman. Like Guardiola asking Barcelona to let their best players – Samuel Etoo, Deco and Ronaldinho – go upon his arrival, Mourinho made a brave decision to give Oscar the playmaking role.
Oscar and Mata are both talented players but they are different. Oscar is more mobile, he is incredibly industrious for a transitional player, he can run with the ball in counter attacks and he likes to do the dirty work, too.
Mourinho can play offensive line-ups but he always make sure his teams are cautious by playing a disciplined defence, two sitting midfielders, then a hard-working front four.
After letting Mata go to Manchester United, he went for Nemanja Matic. It was a brave decision to spend a lot of money on a player that the same club released for much less, but it was a really important decision. Matic likes to protect his back four, he is strong, and he works so hard to break things down. This is a Mourinho kind of player: a physical performer with such an obvious midfield presence.
Mourinho may still bemoan his situation up front but his team has his identity now. They have conceded the least goals in the league. Unlike most teams who play with rotation and freedom, each Chelsea player knows exactly what they should be doing and where.
It is hard for any manager to enforce changes that Mourinho has at Chelsea but he clearly knows what he wants his team to look like.
