New Year’s Day was a forgettable one for Chelsea Football Club.
On the wrong side of a 5-3 drumming at the hands of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, their next match cannot come quick enough.
Now juggling the FA Cup in a four-competition carousel, Jose Mourinho will be given Championship side Watford to wash away the sour taste Spurs undoubtedly gave him and his squad.
“Rotation” has been the buzzword for the Blues in December. Given his world-class side—complete with depth in every area—many ponder why Mourinho has not deployed his troops in a more economic fashion.
The simple answer is his preferred team was winning. An old adage goes: “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” and the Portuguese boss has harkened this saying: A 5-3 loss, however, suggests change is needed.
An aptly timed FA Cup fixture vs. Watford should allow key players to rest over a 10-day period, between Matchdays 20 and 21 of the Premier League. While the logic may seem airtight, Chelsea have been in more advantageous situations to rest players and have not taken the opportunity.
Winning their Champions League group in five games, the sixth fixture at Stamford Bridge vs. Sporting Lisbon was to all intents and purposes a nothing game. Mourinho chose, in the aftermath of losing to Newcastle United, to play a relatively stronger side—making no substitutions until the 71st minute.
Attempting to predict who Chelsea’s boss will play in a meaningful cup match, after a hectic holiday schedule, becomes virtually impossible apprised of past proceedings. The topic on offer, though, is: “How Chelsea Should Line Up.”
The FA Cup draw had “easier” sides than Watford, so Mourinho cannot completely revamp his team. Fifth in the Championship, Slavisa Jokanovic’s side does pose a threat to the west Londoners. No stranger to Stamford Bridge—playing there for two seasons in the early 2000s—Jovanovic will not be intimidated by Chelsea’s home ground, and his calm demeanour should permeate throughout his squad.
As such, going into this game with an overload of Academy players is not an option.
Defensively, John Terry looked slightly tired vs. Southampton and Tottenham over the Christmas schedule and, being 34 years old, deserves a lengthy sabbatical. To deal with Watford danger-man Troy Deeney, Mourinho should rely on Gary Cahill and Kurt Zouma in central defence.
Not having his best display vs. Spurs—and John Obi Mikel being unavailable—Cahill has been made something of a scapegoat. Not possessing the pace to cover for a tired Terry and an often marauding Branislav Ivanovic, the England international was bound to have a poor performance with matches in quick succession.
Given an energetic Zouma to partner alongside, Cahill may be the biggest benefactor should preferred options be rested.
Filipe Luis and Nathan Ake could provide Cesar Azpilicueta and Ivanovic with a much-needed break. Mourinho resting both of his preferred full-backs has virtually no chance of happening but, having crucial games vs. Newcastle, Swansea, Liverpool and Manchester City this month, saving 90 minutes from their legs would seem ideal.
To counteract playing the defensive-minded Mikel and Ramires in the double pivot, Mourinho has two options: He could play Cesc Fabregas, Willian or Lewis Baker in the “No. 10” role or opt not to rotate at all. Alterations do appear unavoidable, so Fabregas starting then spelled by Baker or Ruben Loftus-Cheek in central-attacking midfield looks an excellent approach should the result be settled.
Eden Hazard—in a game of mediocrity—was anything but mediocre vs. Tottenham: Mourinho should rest the Belgian superstar as a courtesy. He deserves a rest period should he want it, and the likes of Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah could do with a match.
Salah, per the Daily Mail, may be loaned to Inter Milan this January; so getting a parting 90 minutes, with no strings attached, would certainly be crafty—if not slightly devious.
Not given many opportunities this season, Loic Remy not starting vs. Watford could be as scandalous as Mourinho thinks refereeing decisions are. The French international has goals in his boots, but Chelsea’s lack of rotation has shelved those goals.
Needing games to sharpen his attacking prowess, Watford look a great outfit for Remy to pounce.
Whichever set of 11 players Mourinho elects to play, they should have the beating of the Hornets in them, but more concerning are the minutes Chelsea’s favoured players have accumulated.
At any convenience, Mourinho should be looking to incorporate his squad with fresh legs and new ideas from the bench. If he cannot mix and match, all the work done in the season’s first half will soon feel irrelevant.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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