Cesc Fabregas
There will be a familiar face in London this season, when Barclay’s Premier League gets underway, but he will be in an unfamiliar location. Ex-Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas has signed with Chelsea FC and is sure to make an immediate impact. Fabregas became a household name for Arsenal fans where he played from 2003 to 2011, before he moved to play for boyhood club Barcelona.
Fabregas struggled to grab any consistency in the Catalan’s starting XI, but that surely is no reflection on his talent or his impact on the field. Expect Fabregas to see a lot of action this year in and out of Chelsea’s starting XI.
Diego Costa
Chelsea’s struggle up top could come to an end this year, with their new signing of Diego Costa. He was a dominant force playing the lone striker for Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side and played a major part in winning their the La Liga title and making it to the UEFA Champions League Final.
Costa should start the season off at the lone striker position, regardless to Chelsea playing a 4-5-1 or a 4-3-3. Chelsea could have a potential top scorer on their side if they can feed Costa early and often.
Filipe Luis
The “Old Guard” is leaving. One of the most influential left backs in modern football history, Ashley Cole, has ended his impressive tenure at Chelsea this summer. Ashley Cole lost out on his stronghold of the left back position last season to Cesar Azpilicueta.
Filipe Luis will most likely have to battle Azpilicueta for starting left back, but, ultimately Luis will be more comfortable on the left side, so he should win out. Luis’s biggest significance should be adding depth to the outside defensive back position. If Jose Mourinho treats his defensive line like he did last year, then he could fall into a groove of using identical defensive lineups for consecutive games throughout the season. Therefore, Filipe Luis will be there mostly to provide depth, but could eventually be the starting left back later in the season.
Conclusion
Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa should make an impact at the start of the season. Fabregas could replace Oscar at the attacking midfielder, while Costa could take the spot of fellow Spanish international Fernando Torres.
The real interesting question is going to be the battle for the left back position between Filipe Luis and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Cesc Fabregas- Starting Center Attacking Mid
Diego Costa- Starting Forward
Filipe Luis- Substitute Left Back
