In terms of the most high profile transfers of the summer, Radamel Falcao’s loan switch from Monaco to Chelsea is some way down the list given his fall from grace in recent seasons.
Once upon a time, Chelsea fans would have been licking their lips at the prospect of boasting Diego Costa and the Colombian international in the same team but fast forward to 2015 and most Blues supporters have been rolling their eyes at his arrival.
Suffering long-term injuries in recent seasons, Falcao only managed to score four goals for United in the Premier League last term despite the Red Devils splashing out huge wages on the former Atletico Madrid striker.
Before Chelsea secured a deal for him earlier this summer, Blues boss Jose Mourinho spoke at length about wanting to rescue Falcao while returning him to his former glories but while he received a vote of faith from the Chelsea manager, the supporters certainly aren’t cut from the same cloth.
Falcao will have to hit the ground running and fast to convince the Blues fans he wasn’t an absolute waste of time and his task will be made that much harder given the fact he’ll have to get used to a super-sub role.
With Chelsea always opting to play one up top, this man will undoubtedly be Diego Costa but given the Spanish international’s temperament, perhaps Falcao may need to fill in on plenty of occasions if Costa is suspended or injured.
Keeping along this theme, we’ve devised five reasons why Jose Mourinho will be able to coax more out of Falcao than Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal ever managed to.
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Click on the image below to reveal the 5 reasons why Radamel Falcao will do better at Chelsea than Manchester United.
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Because Jose Mourinho is the best manager in the league
Fernando Torres may have already proved that he was beyond repair even after Jose Mourinho arrived at the club to try and improve him but if Jose Mourinho can’t improve Falcao, who can?
The Blues boss is without doubt the best manager in the Premier League right now and given how many times we hear the likes of John Terry claim he’s a real man’s man of a manager, we do think Mourinho’s claims that he wants to help Falcao are completely genuine.
The Colombian striker will have to keep himself fit of course but having the trust of his manager will prove vital and there would be nothing Jose Mourinho would love more than to rub a new and improved Falcao in everybody’s faces.
Familiar faces will be in close assistance
They say morale in the dressing room is key towards any team achieving glory while producing their best performances and with Falcao now a Chelsea player, he’ll have familiar faces in Juan Cuadrado from the Colombian national team around, not to mention Diego Costa from their Atletico Madrid days.
Cuadrado and Falcao are both expected to be super-sub’s under Mourinho for the forthcoming campaign and with the South American duo probably expected to enter the fray around the 65th minute mark in rare games in which the Blues are struggling, their familiarity on the pitch could prove vital.
Like Falcao, Cuadrado hasn’t been an impressive signing in the eyes of Chelsea fans and there will be an onus on him as well to hit the ground running while allaying fears he’s indeed the new Mohamed Salah.
Believe it or not, there will be less pressure on him
Some will claim there is a ridiculous amount of pressure on Radamel Falcao to succeed at Chelsea with his ill-fated Manchester United move thrusting his fall from grace into the spotlight while this move is his last chance at a big club in many ways.
That said, we actually think there will be less pressure on Falcao to prove himself at Stamford Bridge with Diego Costa able to take care of himself as the undisputed number one while the likes of Eden Hazard scored a notable goal haul last term.
Falcao will only emerge from the bench in games Chelsea are comfortably winning and in the early rounds of cup competitions so barring an injury crisis, we don’t think he’s going to be relied upon nearly as much as Blues fans first think.
With Loic Remy still on the club’s books too, the Frenchman is also capable of chipping in with goals so Chelsea should be alright.
He’ll receive plenty more assists to score
It was much publicised in the early part of last season that Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa’s partnership was a better one than chips and curry sauce!
With the Blues’ new major signings combining to assist and score an entire hatful of goals, it was clear for everybody to see that Chelsea were playing a style of football that was anything but boring.
If Chelsea fans had any doubts over the abilities Cesc Fabregas was going to bring to their ranks, these fears were immediately put to bed after the Spaniard produced an incredible assist for Andre Schurrle to tuck away on the opening weekend against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Both Fabregas and Oscar are assist merchants and with these specialists providing through balls to the likes of Falcao when he is playing, he will have plenty more opportunities to register more than his four Premier League strikes last term.
Because he can’t do much worse!
Our last reason pretty much sums it up; Radamel Falcao can’t do much worse than just four Premier League goals in 26 appearances last term!
Barring a season ending injury early doors, Falcao surely has to register more than that total in a Chelsea team that lets be honest, is used to blowing away a lot of different opposition teams over the course of a season, especially at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues’ West London home is the definition of a fortress and in games such as Watford and AFC Bournemouth at home when you’d imagine Chelsea to be cruising after half-time, these will be the times in which Falcao can be introduced with less pressure on his shoulders while getting the Midas touch in front of goal back again.
