'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sitting watching Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa make their Chelsea debuts was something we had all been looking forward to seeing for weeks! Having only watched 45 minutes of their debuts, the combination of the two is already exciting me ahead of the new season.
Fabregas plays with such ease in the midfield that it looks as though he has been here for years. He commands respect of the other players and it became clear early on into his debut that HE is the man people look towards to create and craft from that area.
His use of the ball was good, at times simple, but when he spotted an opening or a ball in behind he played it time and time again and put the opposition on the back foot. Of course over time as he gains more of an understanding it will get better. What encourages me most was his understanding and link up play with Diego Costa.
Many times in that first half yesterday we saw Fabregas pick the ball up deep in the 4-2-3-1 formation and his first option was to look for the run off the ball of Costa. In addition, Costa always gave him an option whether it was to drop in deep and come for the ball, to look for a run in between defenders over the top or even pulling out wide.
Fabregas picked him out time and time again and to think, that's only the first competitive game the two have played together, given time it will be something we should see get better and better.
Costa really impressed me despite having voiced my concerns over his temperament recently. He is deceiving in the fact that he looks quite laboured and lethargic but has a burst of pace that takes him beyond defenders.
As I have said, his movement was fantastic and if the likes of Fabregas, Hazard and Oscar can look for his runs as a focal point up top this season, we could see a very different story at Chelsea this season compared to the trials and tribulations we experienced with our strike force last season!Has anyone else picked up on the Costa/Fabregas combination? What did you think?
