Chelsea have plenty of defensive options available to Maurizio Sarri, but it seems the new manager is far from content with the players he has available.
The Blues have established a reputation for being a solid defensive outfit in recent years with managers such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte implementing rigid structures to positive effect. Sarri’s reputation is built less on his ability to build an unbreakable defensive unit and more on his aesthetically appealing, possession-based, high-press philosophy.
Sarri clearly feels that the squad he has inherited is lacking quality in defensive positions, as he looks set to complete the signing of Daniele Rugani for £44.2 million according to the London Evening Standard. The 23-year-old struggled to break into the first-team at Juventus last season so he will be hoping for greater involvement at Chelsea, and based on the promise he has shown in his career so far the Blues would be foolish not to hand him an integral role.
With plenty of defenders currently residing in the squad there’s no doubt that Chelsea will need to offload at least two players to recoup some of the funds spent on Rugani and ensure that the squad harmony is preserved.
With these points in mind, here’s what Chelsea’s new-look defence could look like under Sarri…
Sarri’s preference for deploying a 4-3-3 system will see a new brand of football arrive at Stamford Bridge and push Azpilicueta back into a full-back position.
Although Azpilicueta was consistently solid at centre-back under Conte, Rugani’s arrival will force him back out wide.
Victor Moses could be used in fixtures where Chelsea need an extra spark in the final-third to unlock their opponent, but Azpilicueta will certainly be the first-choice option for fixtures against strong opposition.
Daniele Rugani should slot straight into the first team at Chelsea with a £44.2 million price-tag, and if the beginning of his career is anything to go by the Blues faithful could be in for a treat.
The 23-year-old is a lean, commanding physical presence at the back who is a confident distributor of the ball, so he could become a pivotal cog in Sarri’s fresh system.
Without any previous Premier League experience to call upon, Rugani might struggle initially to adapt to the speed of the division, but with time and patience there’s no doubt he can blossom into one of the best defenders on the continent.
It’s a tough call between Antonio Rudgier and Andreas Christensen for Sarri to make next season, but the Germany international gets the nod due to his extra experience.
The 25-year-old’s first season at the club was an impressive one despite Chelsea’s general decline, and he earned a starting berth at the World Cup for his form at club level.
Christensen will be waiting patiently for his opportunity to shine behind him in the pecking order, so Rudiger must ensure he discovers his best form early in the season if we wants to remain in the first-team.
However, the extra competition for places will almost certainly spell the end of Gary Cahil’s (valued at £13.5 million by Transfermarkt) career at Stamford Bridge as the likes of David Luiz and Kurt Zouma will also be hoping to make an impression under the new manager.
Marcos Alonso naturally wraps up the defence at left-back with little by way of competition for places in his position.
The form he has demonstrated for the club in recent seasons has enabled him to become one of the most highly-regarded left-backs in Europe, so there’s no reason why Sarri should be interested in replacing him this summer.
With the stamina to perform a marauding role up and down Chelsea’s left-flank in a 3-5-2 system, reverting back to 4-3-3 will take the pressure off him somewhat and allow him to step up another gear next season.
