Wayne Rooney and Chelsea: A match made in tactical heaven
Let's be honest, there wasn’t an awful lot to enjoy from the first big fixture of the season between Manchester United and Chelsea.
In fact, the unveiling of Jose Mourinho’s team-sheet was possibly the most enthralling event of the evening.
Mourinho implemented a 4-2-3-1 system, with new recruit Andre Schurrle leading a fluid front diamond. The system, featuring a false number nine, is similar to the one perfected by Mourinho’s former rivals Barcelona, with Lionel Messi the integral cog in their interchangeable machine. When Messi drags defenders further up the pitch it creates holes in behind for his team-mates to exploit.
It didn’t quite work for Jose at Old Trafford, with Schurrle tending to drift to his more familiar right-hand side, leaving Oscar abandoned in the middle and having to shoot from distance. Mourinho realised this and brought on Fernando Torres after 60 minutes and converted to a more conventional 4-3-3.
It is odd, though, that Mourinho would take this risk in such a big game, especially with the recent history between Torres and Nemanja Vidic, where the Spaniard has almost always held the upper hand. Was it to exploit what he thought was a lack of pace in United’s defence, or could it have been a job advert for his most desirable transfer target, Wayne Rooney?
If Mourinho is to play with a false nine throughout this season, which makes sense with the type of players he has, including Willian when he joins, Rooney could be the missing piece of the tactical puzzle.
Although a very different player to Messi, Rooney could flourish in this free role, in a similar way to Francesco Totti at Roma. It would seem there is no-one in Mourinho’s current ranks who could make this role their own, including £50m man Torres, something that was demonstrated at Euro 2012, when he was regularly replaced by Cesc Fabregas, who thrived in the role.
Rooney has all the attributes to be a world-class central midfielder, with a great range of passing, tough-tackling and phenomenal work-rate and, when coupled with his natural eye for goal, the false nine role would seemingly be perfect for him. He has no problem dropping deeper, as we have seen in recent years, where he can start an attack, dribble at the opposition and also contribute with goals.
No wonder Mourinho is so keen to land Rooney; his whole project relies on a player of his type to get the best out of his other men. The move would also be good for the Englishman. Rooney is desperate to be the main man at a club again, ever since he has had to play second fiddle to Robin van Persie (who also played as a false nine for Arsenal), and a move to Chelsea makes sense.
His performance would have thrilled Mourinho last night, as he demonstrated all of the attributes that make him Chelsea’s top target.
In a title race that is expected to go down to the wire, Rooney could be the difference, whoever he’s playing for.
Do you agree? Would Wayne Rooney be an ideal false number nine for Chelsea? Let us know below...