Rumours linking Edinson Cavani with a big-money move to Chelsea appear to be false after manager Jose Mourinho categorically rubbished the claims at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Mourinho was quizzed by journalists over the club’s interest in PSG’s Cavani, who switched from Napoli to the French champions last summer for a staggering £54m fee.
Yet Jose played a straight bat, insisting: “No. In this moment we are trying to sign nobody. I have no idea. He just arrived in the club six months ago. Maybe he’s so happy he doesn’t want to leave and maybe the club is happy and they don’t want him to leave.”
The further distance Chelsea from the striker, Mourinho also claimed Fernando Torres was close to full fitness, leaving many punters on the bet365 football betting community to believe the boss is happy with his lot.
Indeed, Chelsea have proven this season that while a striker is a valuable asset to the team dynamic, it is not a tragedy if one is out of form. Samuel Eto’o has played a pivotal role not only in scoring goals but also in bringing a hungry midfield into the final third. The Cameroonian has of course benefitted from the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar bounding forward at any opportunity, and indeed it is Jose’s midfield that could win Chelsea the title.
When Eto’o has failed to produce the goals, the midfield has filled in.
Indeed, since Didier Drogba left in 2012 the Blues have struggled to find a competent replacement, but this season proves we do not need someone like Cavani to win football matches.
With the arrival of Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah in January, Jose is clearly thinking of winning the league through midfield strength alone and it’s worked well for the boss so far. Maybe us fans get too caught up with the desire to see a big man up front, but Mourinho is revolutionising how to play possession football in the Premier League without the need of a striker.
