The best/worst case scenarios for SIX Chelsea players this season

billy

July 9, 2014

Tags: Andre Schurrle, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Fernando Torres, Gary Cahill, John Terry, jose mourinho, Kenneth Omeruo, Kurt Zouma, Luis Suarez, Mauricio Pochettino, Nemanja Matic, Oscar, Petr Cech, Ramires, Thibaut Courtois, Wayne Rooney, Willian

As is always the case at Stamford Bridge, expectations will be high for Chelsea. Following a season in which they were fighting for the Premier League title throughout, the Blues will be hard pushed to mainstay its form in the second year of the Jose Mourinho era.

The league should only be tougher next season, as it would be difficult to anticipate Manchester United struggling as much as they did last year (although Liverpool could offer some help on that end given Luis Suarez’ situation). Tottenham should improve under new boss Mauricio Pochettino, as well.

As we’ve seen, one season can change a lot for a player and his career arc. Entering last season, Diego Costa had never surpassed ten goals for a league campaign. 27 goals for Atletico Madrid later, Chelsea forked over £32m for the Spanish striker.

This season will be a critical one for Costa and several other Chelsea players. Here are the best and worst case scenarios for SIX Chelsea players for this season.

Diego Costa

Best case: Costa regains the form he showed in Madrid last year, leading the Chelsea attack and becoming one of the top strikers in the Premier League alongside Wayne Rooney and (if he stays at Liverpool) Luis Suarez. The 25-year-old proves he’s worth every penny of the £32m Mourinho paid and is one of the top signings of the offseason.

Worst case: Costa struggles to find his footing in the more physical Premier League, proving the skeptics right that he should have stayed in La Liga. Finding the right chemistry with Eden Hazard, Oscar and Cesc Fabregas proves difficult, and Costa eventually loses his starting spot after Mourinho buys a replacement striker in the January transfer period.

Fernando Torres

Best case: Mourinho buys another striker this summer, but Torres is still able to sneak into the lineup as a reserve and impresses by scoring late game-winners early on in the season. The Chelsea attack, trying to adapt to Costa and Fabregas, starts off slowly, forcing Mourinho to move Torres into the starting XI where he continues his early season form. At 30, he has a rebirth and returns to the form he showed during his Liverpool days.

Worst case: Mourinho elects against buying another striker to begin the season, putting faith that Torres will be an adequate back-up to Costa. But the newly-signed Costa struggles, opening the door for Torres to take over in the starting squad. He continues his subpar play since joining Chelsea, missing easy chances and failing to be the player Chelsea had hoped he would be. Mourinho signs a star striker in January, and Torres is dropped to reserves for most of the season.

Thibaut Courtois

Best case: Courtois finally comes aboard to Chelsea after three spectacular seasons at Atletico Madrid, and continues to be one of the top keepers in the world. Courtois proves Mourinho right in electing to start him over the veteran Petr Cech, and never loses the top spot despite Cech remaining at Stamford Bridge until January. Courtois’ play eventually forces Cech to accept his fate, and the 32-year-old Chelsea legend is sold.

Worst case: Courtois fails to live up to the hype and the pressure of replacing a legend proves to be too much for the 22-year-old. Mourinho holds onto Cech incase this happens, and the outspoken Courtois grows increasingly frustrated with his boss, voicing his displeasures to the media. The Portuguese boss does not take kindly to this and benches Courtois in favor of Cech, who plays as steady as ever. Courtois eventually loses his top spot and the rumors of him leaving after the season start.

Gary Cahill

Best case: In lieu of a his performance in an England shirt at the World Cup, the 28-year-old enters the season with low expectations. Cahill is thrust into a spotlight role after John Terry suffers an injury early in the season and his level of play skyrockets. He sets a career high in goals while helping Chelsea lead the Premier League in shutouts and fewest goals allowed. People even begin talking about him as the next captain once Terry retires.

Worst case: Cahill struggles to regain his form that appeared to evade him during the World Cup. The highlight of him losing Suarez for the deciding goal in the World Cup is shown endlessly, and Chelsea fans groan at the thought of him being the top centre back once Terry retires. Mourinho eventually signs a centre back in January, and he takes Cahill’s spot in the starting XI for the remainder of the season. Cahill’s future with the club becomes uncertain with Kurt Zouma and Kenneth Omeruo coming up through the ranks as well.

Oscar

Best case: Despite all of the offseason additions Chelsea made to its attack, Mourinho puts confidence in Oscar to hold down a starting place in the team. He develops incredible chemistry with Costa and Chelsea’s other new recruits and becomes one of the top threats in the Premier League, finishing behind only Costa in goals for Chelsea. He eventually receives a massive extension, securing his future at Stamford Bridge.

Worst case: Facing competition from Andre Schurrle, Fabregas, and fellow countryman Willian, Oscar can’t quite gain his slot in the manager’s first team. He is then seen out endlessly in London’s trendy West End Bars with a bevy of good looking women rather than concentrating on his on-field performances.

Ramires

Best case: Even with all of the chatter about Chelsea signing another midfielder this summer, Mourinho opts to hang onto the Brazilian and inserts him into the starting lineup, pairing him with Matic in a more defensive position. Ramires finds this to be a very comfortable pairing, as it allows him to be a more combative player while allowing his team mates to play with freedom further up the park.

Worst case: Mourinho can’t afford to buy another midfielder after shelling out top dollar for a striker and left back, forcing him to play Ramires. He struggles with all of the new pieces around him, ultimately losing his starting XI spot. Mourinho is fed up with Ramires’ inconsistent play, brought on by poor tackling and a suddenly lousy work rate. He decides to sell him in January despite getting way less than market value for the 27-year-old.