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Daniele De Rossi
Despite Chelsea sitting four points off the top of the table and having one foot in the Champions League knock-out stages, Jose Mourinho’s heralded return to the Blues’ dugout hasn’t gone entirely according to plan. A particular weakness of the Stamford Bridge outfit has been defending in the centre of the park, as the side lack a holding midfield presence of significant quality. And so with the chance to reinforce their ranks in January fast approaching, should the west London club be looking to Roma’s Daniele De Rossi as the answer?
Nothing illustrates Chelsea’s lack of solidity in front of the back four quite like the loss to Newcastle a fortnight ago, for which the Portuguese tactician unabashedly lambasted his players in the media.
The Blues had a distinct dearth of interceptions in the middle of the pitch, failing to consistently cut off passing lanes and close down the opposition’s forward moves in the formative stages.
As demonstrated by their Heat Map on the day, the Magpies simply circumvented holding midfield duo of Ramires and Lampard on the attack without much resistance as Chelsea’s defence was constantly left exposed.
The pair made just a combined four tackles and interceptions, simultaneously displaying a measure of insecurity in distribution in completing an aggregated 70 of 89 attempted passes (78.6%).
For a top club, such numbers are simply not good enough and highlight the need for a high-calibre acquisition to slot in at the heart of the Chelsea midfield if Mourinho’s men are to realise their ambitions of silverware this term.
Enter De Rossi. The Italy international, long admired by a score of Premier League sides, simply excels where the Blues deep-lying midfielders stumble.
Possessing a superb tactical brain, the born and bred Roman is in the company of the world’s best in his ability to read the game and as a result has come up with 35 interceptions for the Giallorossi this season, good for second in Serie A amongst midfielders.
Furthermore, De Rossi’s defensive influence extends all the way to his own penalty area, as evidenced by his 28 clearances and 12 blocks, painting a picture of a player that is known for his tenacity and resolve to assist his side in keeping clean sheets at all costs.
But even whilst the 30-year-old career Roma man is such a steadfast presence in guarding against danger to his goal, he offers plenty going forward, to boot.
He’s completed 90% of his passes to date for the Serie A leaders, including 78% of long balls played, creating 10 chances in the process, and is also an effective opportunistic dribbler in having completed 15 of 20 take-ons.
De Rossi also possesses a powerful right foot and has long been regarded as a genuine threat from distance, his lone goal on the campaign having come in the form of a searing long range strike on opening day against Livorno.
Back at Stamford Bridge, Ramires has been left to do the majority of the running in the holding midfield pair alongside a 35-year-old Lampard, leaving the Brazilian overexerted and less effective than possible.
John Obi Mikel, another option for Mourinho to deploy in front of the back line, has been largely unimpressive in six Premier League appearances, whilst Michael Essien has been a non-factor in not having made a single showing in the English top flight since returning from Real Madrid.
De Rossi has comprehensively outdone each of his Chelsea counterparts thus far in the Italian championship with a Performance Score of 442, dwarfing Lampard’s 255, Ramires’ 119, and the figure of 75 posted by Mikel.
It bears noting that both Lampard and Ramires are not defensive players by nature, and each has done admirably going forward this term, but such a statement only emphasises the necessity for a defensively-inclined midfield operator in west London.
Roma’s vice-captain indeed fits the role, uncompromising at the back but versatile enough as to not sacrifice attacking potential, and would be the ideal man for Mourinho, known to value industrious midfielders.
However, it is entirely unlikely that Chelsea would be able to get hold of the Giallorossi talisman, who has never known any club but that of his childhood.
De Rossi did admit earlier in the season that he considered leaving the Stadio Olimpico for the first time in his career this past summer after a tumultuous 2012-13 campaign, with the Blues having expressed interest in securing his services, but has experienced a renaissance under boss Rudi Garcia to carry on what he has called “one of the greatest love stories between a club and a player”.
Yet with Roman Abramovich always willing to go to great financial lengths to improve his club, Chelsea will undoubtedly persist in attempting to sign the Italian.
