Jose Mourinho and John Terry, symbolic figures at the club, were forced to watch the Blues crash and burn in what could be Chelsea’s worst performance since the Special One returned to Stamford Bridge.
The result itself wasn’t peculiar considering City were at home, and the attacking prowess at Manuel Pellegrini’s disposal, but the performance, in particular, showcased errors that aren’t typically associated with a Mourinho team. A fairly open-minded XI left Chelsea too open in midfield, and several individual mistakes throughout the XI sealed the Blues’ fate – not even a heroic Asmir Begovic showing could stop City, Sunday afternoon.
Criticism was expected – though Mourinho’s “fake result” theory didn’t improve the Portuguese manager’s situation – but the reaction from both the manager and the Chelsea board subsequent to the result signifies last week’s humbling as a potential tipping point. Chelsea’s timid transfer activity leading up to the clash introduced Radamel Falcao and Begovic to the club, replacements for the departing Petr Cech and Didier Drogba, but Roman Abramovich failed to bolster a squad that apparently has European success on their radar.
Though Chelsea improved in the second half due to City’s incompetent midfield duo, the most worrying feat involving the away side was their lack of game-changers on the bench. Perhaps Oscar’s – arguably Chelsea’s best performer in a 2-2 draw against Swansea – creativity was missed at the Etihad, but out-of-form Colombian winger, Juan Cuadrado, serving as the sole hope of rescuing an away point illustrates the lack of depth at Stamford Bridge.
Nevertheless, this week, the Chelsea board and Mourinho finally got to business. Surely, Baba Rahman can be considered a replacement for Filipe Luis, but Branislav Ivanovic’s poor start to the campaign presents an opportunity for the Ghanaian to instantly slot into the XI, pushing Cesar Azpilicueta to his natural right back position.
Pedro Rodriguez’s arrival from Barcelona, however, is the signing Blues supporters have been waiting for. At a measly £21m fee, Mourinho adds a World, European, and three time Champions League speedster to his attack. Ideally, he’s a player well-suited to flourish in Mourinho’s system, and the Portuguese manager must know this from the goals Pedro scored against Real Madrid in previous Clasico encounters.
Perhaps many will lean towards classifying Pedro as a Barcelona reject, yet, frankly, the Spaniard played a significant role in arguably the best side of the last decade, under Pep Guardiola. And similar to Manchester United, and Liverpool, two clubs that were interested in the Spaniard, Pedro offers Chelsea an additional dimension to a star-studded attack.
Competing with the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry, David Villa, Alexis Sanchez, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for a place in a starting XI is no easy task, but his tactical intelligence combined with his ability to carry out his manager’s instructions merited his playing time. Fighting for positions is common to Pedro, but with limited attacking options upfront, the belief that the Spaniard will sit on the Chelsea bench is peculiar.
The two footed winger can operate in all four attacking positions in a 4-2-3-1, often adopting a wide position on the touchline before charging into space behind the back-line to receive through balls. Not one to run at the opposition from a distance, Chelsea doesn’t possess a player willing to run behind the defence, and it’s rare to see quality crosses delivered from either byline – Ivanovic serves as the club’s best source of service in wide areas.
“My job is to go outside and create width, or come in between the centre-back and the full-back” said Pedro during his time at Barcelona.
“I have to fill in the space quickly, coordinate with the midfielders and make sure no one runs a counterattack on us.”
Most recently, the Spaniard showcased his adaptability – due to the absence of Luis Suarez – in Barcelona’s league showdown against Atletico Madrid, which ultimately declared the Catalan side champions. The 28-year-old came short for passes, maintained the side’s balance by drifting to the right when Messi moved centrally, and offered a legitimate threat behind the Atletico defence.
Essentially, Pedro’s speed, tremendous work-rate, goals, and his intent to fight for a starting role separates the Spaniard from the several out-casted wingers that failed to make the cut in Mourinho’s second stint at Stamford Bridge. But more importantly, Pedro fully understands his role, and his selfless nature ensures he constantly seeks what’s best for the team.
Goals, nevertheless, sets Pedro apart from the current crop of attacking midfielders at Stamford Bridge. Hazard, Oscar, nor Willian have proved to be consistent in front of goal, whereas the Spaniard developed a knack of scoring decisive goals over the years. The 28-year-old recorded goals in every competitive competition for Barcelona, including the opener in the 2011 Champions League finals, and two significant El Clasico tallies against Mourinho.
“I try not to have nerves,” said Pedro in an interview with the Guardian.
“You have to be cold-blooded. You have to think, to look at the goalkeeper: how is he positioned? You study them, you know about them, even if there isn’t always time, even if it’s sometimes intuition. You look to see where he is. And if he goes early, it makes your job easier.
Perhaps Pedro developed into an under-appreciated figure at the Camp Nou over the past few seasons, but a move to Stamford Bridge suits both parties, here. For the Spaniard, he receives a chance to maintain his status as a top performer, and become a global star within the most watched league in the world.
For Chelsea, they receive an effective winger that’s a product of the system – in short, everything Mourinho desires in a player. A player capable of speeding up the Blues, occasional laboured attack, yet not needing the ideal angle or position to turn chances into goals.
More so, what Barcelona lost, and Manchester United failed to grasp, is Chelsea’s gain. His intelligence in the final third, finishing, and intent to constantly make runs behind the defence is an asset that most top-clubs aspire to possess. Three of the four best players in the world kept Pedro on the bench, but in a Chelsea side aiming to challenge on all four fronts, with Mourinho rarely rotating last season, Pedro may serve as the catalyst the Blues desperately need to exceed last year’s achievements.
Even the best clubs and managers need the occasional wakeup call to steady a successful ship, and Pedro represents a figure that may symbolize a shift in Chelsea’s evolution.
