Salah should not expect to immediately cement a place in the first team, but there is a sense that he offers certain qualities that Mata, and Chelsea, have lacked. He is quicker than any player the Blues boast in their frontline and, as Petr Cech will attest, has a knack for preying on the last man, darting in behind defences and finishing with aplomb. The former El Mokawloon winger, who won the Most Promising African Talent of the Year award in 2012, may not be as established or influential as Mata, but he brings a different, much-needed skillset to the club. The bests squads are not comprised of simply the best players, but need to offer variation and options – and in this respect Salah could even be more valuable than the man he will replace. Hes a natural wideman, unlike so many of Chelseas attackers, capable of playing on either flank, and his pace will terrorise tired defences on the counterattack. That speed and directness makes him a perfect weapon off the bench in a side that has occasionally required a spark of invention and je ne sais quoi. Matas looming departure was brought about by a lack of suitability to Mourinhos high-pressing style of play, but Salah feels a much more natural fit to that defensive tempo and application. While Salah might have preferred the freedom Brendan Rodgers expressive style would have afforded him at Anfield, he certainly wont be at odds with Chelseas philosophy. Coming up against more established sides in Europe, he has been asked by manager Murat Yakin to track back, work hard and absorb pressure. In fact, only two outfield players (Shakhtars Darijo Srna and Portos Fernando) have recovered possession more times in the Champions League this season than Salahs 44. Meanwhile, no Chelsea attacker has recorded more interceptions than Salahs six, while only Oscar (12) has more tackles than the Egyptian (7) – Mata, as testament to his lack of suitability, has zero. Salah, then, is an entirely different type of threat to what Chelsea currently have at their disposal, yet he also a good fit for the style of play promoted and demanded by Mourinho. The west Londoners may be losing a two-time Player of the Season, but in Salah they have a explosive, frighteningly quick replacement who could have a big role to play in the title race.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:13:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015