Chelsea
Willian: The Catalyst For Juan Mata’s Stamford Bridge Collapse?
When Chelsea snatched Willian from the clutches of Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, pundits and fans alike believed it was a move to weaken Tottenham rather than strengthen Chelsea.
The former Anzhi Makhachkala winger seemed destined for a move to White Hart Lane, but as Daniel Levy wrangled over every penny, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich made a personal call to Anzhi’s owner Suleyman Kerimov to offer £32 million up front and bring the big-haired Brazilian to Stamford Bridge.
At the start of the season, it seemed like Chelsea had bought Willian for the purpose of scorning their rivals, as the 25-year-old was seemingly consigned to substitute appearances and the odd start in the League Cup, much like Juan Mata.
But since November, Willian has blossomed, integrating himself into the Chelsea starting line-up while Mata was left to kick his heels on the bench and seek pastures new, and eventually swapped Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford in January.
Chelsea’s no.22 turned in another effervescent and impressive performance against Manchester City at the Etihad on Monday, and along with Hazard was an excellent outlet for Mourinho’s side, retaining possession superbly and starting counterattacks rapidly, whilst also sticking to his defensive duties that Mourinho craves from all his players.
Did Willian’s form and manner in which he plays give Mourinho all the evidence he needed to send Mata packing?
The two are different types of players with different attributes, Willian is a pacy, hardworking, skilful winger, whereas Mata is dangerous no.10, capable of defence splitting passes and excellent set-pieces.
The 25-year-old Spaniard had been Chelsea’s best player since he signed from Valencia in the summer of 2011, and was voted the player of the year at Stamford Bridge in his two full seasons at the club.
But with the arrival of Jose Mourinho, Mata found himself below the pecking order, with his lack of defensive work-rate being the primary reason for his limited game-time under the Portuguese maestro, it’s also how Willian got the chance to stake his claim in the starting line-up.
The former Anzhi winger isn’t in the side just for his defensive contribution, he is 2nd to Eden Hazard with regards to the amount of assists he has made, and he suits Mourinho’s system like a glove, especially away from home in the big games where Chelsea tend to play on the counter.
The Brazil star has pace to burn unlike Mata, and can get the Blues up the pitch in a matter of seconds, this was evident against Arsenal and Manchester City, as him and Hazard were instrumental in all of Chelsea’s attacking, retaining the ball and using it wisely.
Mata tends to always look for the killer ball, but while that mentality can work to devastating effect, more often than not it would slow down a counter-attack, which was the source of Chelsea’s goal in the clash with fellow title contenders Manchester City.
Willian also gives Chelsea a more balanced attack, as he is a natural winger and can use his pace to go past a man and deliver crosses into the box, while if Mata plays, it would mean him or Oscar would have to play on the wing when they both prefer to play in the hole.
This would lead to Mata/Oscar wanting to cut inside, giving Chelsea less of a threat on the wing and making the Blues more susceptible to an attack down the side.
Mourinho wants players to get stuck in and fight for the team, and while Willian averages 1.6 tackles a game, and 0.6 interceptions, Mata only averages one tackle a game, and only 0.2 interceptions, something that counted against the Spaniard as he tried to win his place back into the Chelsea side.
There is no denying that Juan Mata is an extraordinary talent who could waltz his way into many top European outfits, but the way Willian has fitted into Mourinho’s system simply gave Mata no regular place in Chelsea’s starting XI.
Chelsea
Sonia Bompastor Refuses to Address Sam Kerr Exit Speculation Amid Chelsea Striker’s Uncertain Future
Sonia Bompastor has declined to discuss Sam Kerr’s future at Chelsea amid mounting speculation the Australian superstar will walk away from Stamford Bridge as a free agent this summer. The prolific striker’s contract expires at the end of the current campaign, with numerous reports claiming she has already decided to leave after seven years in English football.
Bompastor shut down questions about Kerr’s situation during her pre match press conference, stating that both the forward and captain Millie Bright, remain under contract for now. The Chelsea boss made clear she will not be drawn into speculation about player futures while matches remain to be played this season.
Sam Kerr Departure Would End Glorious Era
The potential exit of Kerr alongside long time captain Bright would signal the end of Chelsea’s most successful period in their history. The club has already lost Guro Reiten permanently, while Catarina Macario is heading to America on what reports claim will be a record shattering NWSL contract worth millions.
Chelsea appears committed to rebuilding around younger talent rather than extending deals for established stars entering the latter stages of their careers. This strategic shift could see several high profile names depart simultaneously this summer.
American Clubs Preparing Lucrative Offers for Sam Kerr
Multiple NWSL franchises are circling for Kerr’s signature, hoping to lure the Australian back to the United States, where she previously starred before joining Chelsea. The American league has dramatically increased investment in recent years, offering salaries that can now compete with European clubs.
Ian Wright publicly criticized any decision to offer Kerr merely a short extension rather than a substantial long term deal, arguing her legendary status deserves better recognition. However, Chelsea’s transfer strategy appears already set, with youth recruitment taking priority over sentiment towards club icons nearing the end of their peak years.
Chelsea
26-Year-Old Set for $8M Move to San Diego Wave as Chelsea Striker Expected to Leave Stamford Bridge With Transfer Window Nearing Final Days
Catarina Macario is expected to leave Chelsea F.C. Women and complete a move to San Diego Wave FC with the transfer window nearing its final days. Reports suggest the NWSL side is working quickly to finalize the deal, which could be worth roughly $8 million in total contract value.
The proposed transfer fee is believed to be around $300,000, which is frankly a favorable outcome for Chelsea given that Macario’s contract expires this summer. Without a sale now, the American international could have left the club as a free agent at the end of the season, which would have been disastrous business.
San Diego Using High Impact Player Rule
San Diego Wave are planning to sign the forward using the NWSL’s High Impact Player rule, a mechanism that allows clubs to pay certain star players up to $1 million outside the league’s salary cap. To qualify, players must meet specific performance or profile criteria, which Macario certainly does.
The current NWSL salary cap stands at $3.7 million, making the rule an important tool for attracting top international talent. This represents a significant investment from San Diego, who are absolutely serious about building a championship winning squad.
Has Not Featured Regularly for Chelsea
Macario has not featured regularly for Chelsea in recent weeks, partly due to injury concerns and the uncertainty surrounding her future. Despite her absence, Chelsea recently secured their first trophy of the season by defeating Manchester United Women in the Women’s League Cup final.
The London club remain active on multiple fronts, still competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League and preparing for the quarter final stage of the Women’s FA Cup.
Chelsea Sit Third in WSL
However, Chelsea’s domestic league campaign has been more challenging. For the first time in five seasons, they are no longer clear favorites for the Women’s Super League title under manager Sonia Bompastor.
Chelsea
Joe Montemurro Makes Remarkable Juventus vs Chelsea Comparison After Matildas Gets Past Best Team at Asia Cup
Joe Montemurro showed a flexibility to his approach in the Women’s Asian Cup quarter finals that meant the Matildas prevailed by adapting to the circumstances in front of them, even if it was contradictory to the style that is in his DNA. Australia edged North Korea 2-1 in Perth to make the semi finals in what was a resilient performance against the tournament’s best team.
“Let’s be frank and honest here. Winning football games like that, it usually happens in tournaments,” Montemurro said after the victory. The Italian boss then turned to his captain, Sam Kerr, in the press conference and referenced one of his key wins in European football with Juventus against her Chelsea side.
Had 450 Million Shots and We Had One
“I’ve done it a few times like that in Champions League. I think there was a game against Chelsea, we got a draw. They had 450 million shots, and we had one,” Montemurro said with a smile. This Champions League reference perfectly illustrated the type of performance Australia needed to overcome North Korea.
He added, “We knew that they were a great side. They’re the best team in the tournament. They really are. So we just had to be methodical. Where we won the game were the little bits in between, as we were losing the ball or as we were winning the ball to keep our shape and keep our organisation. We didn’t create much. We had to resist a lot.”
It’s Who I Am But Part of Remit to Win
Montemurro was absolutely honest about abandoning his preferred style for tournament pragmatism. “Do I want to play a possession based game? Do I want to keep the ball? It’s who I am. It’s my DNA, but part of my remit is to win football matches,” he explained.
He continued, “Sometimes you have to have that flexibility. At this level, it’s all about moments. It’s all about taking those moments.”
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