Chelsea have had a very good start to the campaign, currently topping the Premier League table. Ominously they are only going to get stronger.
Eden Hazard’s early season form for Chelsea has seen him live up his star billing as one of Europe’s most talented young players. He was instrumental in wins over Wigan and Reading as well as Newcastle.
Fernando Torres has done his bit too, even if he threatened to spoil it with his sulk after being subbed against QPR, and for Chelsea the season ahead is full of potential.
No less, because two of their most talented players have yet to get started.
Chelsea have two players at their disposal signed for a combined £48.5 million, who have barely made an impact. They are Juan Mata and Oscar.
Mata is currently displaying the after-effects of a long debut season, combined with travelling to Eastern Europe for Euro 2012, and playing at the Olympics.
Rest? There has barely been any, but his so performances so far this season have been below the high standard he set himself, and tiredness is the explanation.
It is something Roberto di Matteo has accepted, and left him out of the draw with QPR. Was it a coincidence they failed to find the net without him?
He is set to be recalled tonight for the Blues’ clash with Juventus, after an international break added rest which did not see him play a single minute for Spain.
While he has so far been below par in his form, Chelsea have been excellent, so when he finds his form and gets back to his best, the prospects for Chelsea look mouth-watering.
So what then of the opportunity for Chelsea to kick-on when £25 million Brazilian midfielder Oscar finds his feet.
To date the midfield talent has made just two substitute appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea, playing a combined 49 minutes out of a possible 360.
He too like Mata played at the Olympics, and had even less rest than the Spaniard as Brazil made it all the way to the final. Oscar also has the challenge of adapting to Premier League football, which as the history of Brazilian players in England shows, will not be easy.
He remains one of the world’s most highly admired young footballers, and just 21, has the world at his feet. The challenge for him is to force his way into the first team, potentially even usurping Frank Lampard and striking up a partnership in midfield with compatriot Ramires.
It is quite something to consider that Chelsea have thrown off the shackles of last season and are topping the table already, but it is another entirely to consider that Oscar and Mata are either not playing a part, or in the latter case out of form.
So when they are both fully fit, adjusted, and on form, combined with a potent Hazard-Torres combination, Chelsea’s potential is limitless, and this strength in depth certainly indicates early on, that a title challenge could well be on the cards.
How can Oscar affect Chelsea? What is your perfect Chelsea XI?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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