Does The Signing Of Cesc Fabregas Signal A Significant Change At Chelsea?

With the news that Cesc Fabregas has joined English Premier League outfit Chelsea, the move is easily the biggest of the summer so far (sorry Liverpool and Rickie Lambert). In joining the London based team, Fabregas has not only signalled that he has thrown in the towel after his dream move back to Barcelona didn’t pan out as hoped. He is also leading what could turn out to be a revolution of sorts at Chelsea too. 

Jun 7, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas (10) takes a penalty kick against El Salvador in the first half at FedEx Field. Spain won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea have captured a player who is comfortable in a variety of roles. He can sit deep and spray balls around the park, or he can even be deployed as one of those sometimes trendy ‘false nines’ and do damage further up the pitch. Either way, he is known more for what he is able to do going forward. In actual fact he can operate as a box to box midfielder, and defensively he can get stuck in. These are traits Chelsea love to have in their team, they are a hardworking bunch who strangle the life out of opponents with their discipline and physicality. Yet Fabregas breaks that mould. He possesses flair, an ability to think outside the box, be spontaneous. These are traits that Mourinho typically tries to stamp out of his team, preferring regimental repetition to bring success.

Here is another fact that has been overlooked by some. Mourinho is a genius there is no doubt. However in his last season with Real Madrid and his first with Chelsea he didn’t win any trophies. How very un-Mourinho like of him. Before the sheer power and dominance of his sides wielded results. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, and so maybe he sees that he needs to change his style, his tactics.

Fabregas represents a move in that direction for his team. He is not what you would call a typical Chelsea signing, although he is talented enough to play anywhere. With Frank Lampard gone, Fabregas can slot into the middle of the park, with the hard working Ramires buzzing around him. Failing that, Nemanja Matic may actually work better alongside Cesc, with Willian proving a spark in front of both of them. Whatever way the team lines up, there now exists a strength in depth and nice blend of power and skill in the middle of the park.

Whatever way Mourinho deploys his players next year, it seems times are changing at Stamford Bridge with Mourinho in charge. If defending well and winning has stopped working for him, it is a bold and necessary move to change tactics. With that in mind, it seems it will now be attack and win as the mantra for this team. Let us not forget though, that their success will still be built on a solid base. Whether Petr Cech or Thibaut Courtois start in goal, they will have one of the best goalkeepers in Europe as the last line of defence.

From there, Chelsea’s defence is also in the midst of a makeover with Kurt Zouma and Tomas Kalas (who has been sent on loan to Cologne) seen as the future of the team at the back. Certainly Zouma has a touch of the great Marcel Desailly about him which bodes well for the team’s future. Add to that the fact that the ever present Gary Cahill and much improved Cesar Azpilicueta already make up part of the defence, and perhaps Mourinho isn’t getting away from his fundamentals as much as we might think.

You have to think Chelsea will spend some more money, and in reality this is a great signing for them. Whether or not his arrival signals a change in mentality at the club is irrelevant, his is a proven midfielder who has played in the Premier League before and knows what to expect. Arsenal passed on him and while they may not need him, they may ultimately regret steering him into a direct rival’s arms.