Chelsea: Ross Barkley was a Bargain for the Blues

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Ross Barkley of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Ross Barkley of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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Barkley has been in superb form this season, giving Maurizio Sarri selection problems.

A midfield of Jorginho, Kante, and Kovacic is absolutely mouth-watering. That is a trio packed to the brim with intelligence, technique, and pure quality. What it is missing though, is end product.

Not that that’s a necessity for a midfield, as the 3-time defending Champions League winners Real Madrid have a midfield which rarely comes up with goals or assists, but Chelsea’s lack of a proper striker means a lot of the goal contribution and expectation falls onto Eden Hazard.

Barkley has helped ease this burden when he has played. His dynamism, energy, and drive in midfield is something that no other midfielder in the Chelsea team possesses, meaning he often comes up very crucial in the final third.

Barkley still isn’t a guaranteed starter at Chelsea, as there are many names in the same position with a higher pedigree than him, but he simply gives the Blues a unique option should they need it. This really showed on Sunday.