Sunday, 17 July 2016

Will Juan Cuadrado Succeed In Chelsea If Recalled By Antonio Conte?

By Ewah Chika.

"Cuadrado is a Chelsea player and I am waiting for him. He must come back very soon.

"He is our player. I am very happy to have him. He is a player I wanted in Juventus and now he must come back and start to train with us. Yes he is Chelsea's player and he will stay with us. If something changes you will know," were the words of Antonio Conte on the future of Juan Cuadrado who spent last season on loan in Juventus .


Cuadrado's case is a typical example of how football changes so fast after joining Chelsea in a high profile move from Fiorentina for £23 million in January 2015. In that period the winger made 13 league appearances with four of them as starts with no goal to show . Cuadrado's form was so bad that it was certain he will get limited game time the next season which prompted his move to Juventus on a season long loan. Last season in Seria A, the Colombia became a regular starter in Juventus making 28 appearances, scoring four goals, registering five assists and creating a further 44 chances. The Colombian won the Seria A and Coppa Italia while his former team mates in Chelsea flopped and ended the season in 10th unable to secure European football for this season after winning the league title the previous season (2015).

Cuadrado will add width to the narrow Chelsea team as his pace and ability to stretch defenders is vital. The player is also perfect in a 3-5-2 as a winger back which is the position he played exceptionally  for Vincenzo Montella in Fiorentina before his exit. With the likes of Pedro, Willian and Victor Moses able to play as right wingers, Cuadrado offers something the aforementioned players cannot and that is the ability to cross directly instead of cutting inside and experience of playing as a wing- back. Cuadrado might not boast the physical qualities of  Willian but if given the chance in a different tactics which requires defensive discipline he will excel more than the Brazilian .

With the loss to Rapid Vienna by Chelsea and the rusty performance of the players on show on Saturday, there is need to retain Cuadrado and give him a chance to show the reason he cost over £23 million in 2015.

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