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Nationality: Columbian
Current club: Inter Milan
Position: Centre Midfield (primary), Right Midfield, CAM.
Strengths: Physical strength, pace, versatility to play in variety of positions, excellent control on the ball and takes long, powerful shots with both feet. Can act as play-maker, enabling the team to have pivoted attacks from a variety of positions on the pitch. Very good crosser and dribbler of the ball, makes a lot of chance creating key passes.
Weaknesses: Finishing and tackling. A tad better than Ramires at it.
Style of play: Has a lot of moves in the final third of the pitch. Likes to dribble and cut inside when operating on the flanks; can provide with crosses surprising the opposition. Doesn’t dive much into tackles but commits a lot of fouls(again, Ramires-like).
Signing Fredy Guarin from Inter might solve Chelsea’s midfield woes as Frank Lampard, aging Michael Essien, less than impressive Mikel and workhorse Ramires haven’t been able to provide the pivot Chelsea front 4 need when going into the attacks. Defensive part of the game has struggled as well, as Chelsea have conceded 3 goals each against teams like Sunderland(at Stadium of Light) and Stoke City(at Liberty stadium), revealing how fragile they are in perhaps the most important part of the pitch.
Since Guarin provides strength in terms of pace, ball control, physical strength and ability with both legs, it enables the team to use another CDM in an attacking role alongside him when need to attack and create chances from much deeper positions are required. Ramires is a good option in such cases with Guarin in a more defensive role. He can tackle, and that means Chelsea will have an increased chance of winning the ball back higher up the pitch. He can start attacks on his own and physically drag his team up the field when under pressure.
Guarin is like a train when he gets going, and to unleash him fully (Yaya Toure style), he needs to be played in a more advanced role.
When he does win the ball back high up the pitch, his task is to immediately lay it off to the more creative types. That’s where the likes of Mata, Oscar, Schurrle, Hazard, Willian etc. come in. Frank Lampard still is a player who can very well play the CAM role, playing Guarin behind him will enable Frank to be able to take on the attacking role freely, knowing that in case of a lost possession situation, the Columbian can get a tackle in and win the ball, and immediately providing it to Lamps who is tremendous when playing the final ball. Brings in the Striker too.
Since he can perform the attacking job with the same intensity, playing Essien or Mikel enables the team to have the same impact with a more defensive stability in the centre. Being able to play in different positions simply means more options for the manager, as much debated topic of ‘Where does Luiz belong on the pitch?’ can enable the selection staff to pick and play David Luiz alongside Guarin, with the latter providing a more defensive roll, allowing Luiz to go ahead with his trademark forward runs and final balls to create chances.
Overall, Fredy Guarin looks like an excellent signing and for a reportedly £15 million, he can might as well be the pivot in Chelsea’s campaign this season.
