Analysing Cesc Fabregas’ man-of-the-match display for Chelsea against Swansea City

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Chelsea moved eleven points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a determined performance against relegation-threatened Swansea City. The away side worked hard and frustrated the league leaders for long periods, but the quality of the Blues shone through in the end. Antonio Conte has his side well drilled and they always seem to find a way to win, which is why it is difficult to see any other team winning the title. Their success has been built on having a settled first eleven, but they brought in Cesc Fabregas for Nemanja Matic yesterday and the Spaniard delivered a man-of-the-match display.

Although he lacks the incredible athleticism and ball-winning ability of Matic, the Spanish international provides more creativity to the midfield and he ran the game against Swansea. This was his first Premier League start since New Year’s Eve, but Conte obviously felt that it was a match in which he could afford to play a more attack-minded midfield. The side from South Wales were always going to defend deep and look to play on the counter-attack, therefore Chelsea would need to break them down. Fabregas is one of the best creative midfielders in the league and everything positive about the Blues’ attacking play went through him. The decision to start with him was vindicated as he was hugely influential in his side picking up the three points.

Playing alongside Ngolo Kante gave Fabregas the freedom to get forward and make things happen for his side. He had 127 touches of the ball, which was more than any other player on the pitch. This highlights the impact that the 29-year-old had on the match, as his team-mates were always looking to give him the ball. The former Barcelona man completed 86% of his passes, five of which were key passes, which was once again more than anyone else during the match.  The Spaniard’s vision and passing were one of the major reasons for Chelsea’s win, as he got the assist for the second goal, which renewed the lead for the home side.

The ability to roam behind the front three allowed the midfielder to find pockets of space to exploit, while he also showed that he can make late runs into the box to become a goal threat himself. It was one of these surges that led to the first goal as the ball fell to him and he slotted past Lukasz Fabianski. Chelsea’s central midfield has been dominant this season, but they have lacked goal threat, something that Fabregas brings in abundance. Throughout the match, he attempted five shots and came close to a second as his powerful drive from outside the area crashed against the bar.

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Despite his excellent attacking performance, his defensive contribution underlined why he isn’t a regular in the starting eleven this season. He completed only two ball recoveries compared to Kante’s eight. The Spaniard isn’t suited to winning the ball back and in big matches, Chelsea could be overrun in the middle of the park if Fabregas was one of their two central midfielders. Conte can afford to play a more attack-minded midfielder in matches against the teams at the bottom of the league, but it would be a huge risk against the rest of the top six.

It was an excellent performance from the Spaniard, serving as a reminder to the world that he remains a very good creative midfielder. There had been speculation linking him with a move away during the January transfer window, but Chelsea made the decision to keep him at the club and have now found the perfect role for him. He will understand that he can’t be a starter every week considering the formidable partnership of Kante and Matic. However, he can be an asset in matches against teams in the bottom half. In these games, the Blues will get more of the ball and need a player that can unlock an opposition defence with regularity.

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