Say What – Gameweek 36

This week’s collection of pertinent soundbites brings Jose Mourinho’s rotation plans into focus. John Terry is determined to feature in both Chelsea’s last two matches, Louis van Gaal and Leighton Baines both discuss spot-kick duties, whilst Tom Cleverley’s hails Tim Sherwood’s tactical tinkering after netting for the third match in succession.

Mourinho plans further rotation ahead of Baggies clash

Having clinched the title in a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace, Jose Mourinho named five changes for their subsequent fixture against Liverpool yet still retained plenty of key figures (Eden Hazard, John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Willian and Cesc Fabregas) in the starting XI. Few managers expected the Portuguese boss to field a second string side considering the nature of the Blues’ opponents in Gameweek 36, but his comments after the Reds tie suggest he’s prepared to make further alterations for Chelsea’s trip to West Brom. With his side still unbeaten at home, though, Mourinho – as with his past two title wins in La Liga and Serie A – plans to welcome back his regulars for the final day of the season:

“People like Fabregas, Hazard, Willian, they are playing too much, so it’s also difficult for them to keep that intensity for 90 minutes, but we gave them a game and we did what we had to do. In the last game (at home to Sunderland) I will play the players with the most minutes in the Premier League, against West Brom, especially because they are safe and nobody is waiting for a result, he [Ruben] will play and probably Nathan Ake, who deserves to play. Izzy Brown came from West Brom so it will be special for him to play at his house, they all deserve it.”

Terry targets starts in pursuit of scoring record

John Terry’s goal against Liverpool last Gameweek saw him overtake David Unsworth as the Premier League’s all-time top-scoring defender. Not only that, the Chelsea captain has notched more goals (five) than any other defender this campaign. Having equalled his previous best haul of eight goals in all competitions in one term – which was achieved during the Blues’ title-winning 2004/05 season – Terry is determined on besting that record. Conversing with Chelsea TV, Terry said he’ll be imploring manager Jose Mourinho to let him start in the champions’ remaining two fixtures, amid fears that the pragmatic boss may elect to rest more key players for their trip to West Bromwich Albion this weekend.

“Looking for one more to beat (my best). Two games to go. I’m fit. Hopefully I play in both. I’ll be begging the manager to let me play. Two games we need to keep winning and keep pushing on.”

Baines on relinquishing spot kick-duty

Leighton Baines netted five goals in three of his previous four league campaigns and scored four in the 2011/12 season. With just two Gameweeks left to play, the Everton left-back sits well below that average on two goals (both penalties), which in part can be attributed to the fact that Romelu Lukaku has assumed spot-kick duties of late, converting the Toffees’ last two penalties. Speaking to the club’s official site, Baines explained his decision to relinquish duties was intended to boost the big Belgian’s on-pitch self-belief:

“When Rom signed permanently I said then, if he wanted them, no problem. It was just about getting him scoring when we re-signed him. So I said ‘whenever you’re ready, just tell me’ because, again, I’m thinking of him as a player. Strikers live off goals and look at their records and if he’s scoring penalties, and his record is looking good, then his confidence is good and you’ll probably get other goals on the back of that. If he scores a penalty after 20 minutes, then he’s up and you might get other goals from that. Now, you’ve got to score them and so far he has been. Unless he tells me otherwise, it will stay that way. I’m relaxed about it either way. I’m not someone who is going to throw his toys out of the pram because he’s not on them. But on the other side it’s not like I don’t want to hit them. I’ve taken them for long enough in many a different situation and scenario – it’s not a confidence issue. I’m always available to take them but I’m not egotistical.”

Hazard keen to entertain

Unsurprisingly, Eden Hazard boasts a huge lead atop the dribbling rankings this term, having successfully executed 54 more dribbles (165) than next-best Alexis Sanchez (111). The PFA Player of the Year has complemented his wing wizardy with a clinical final product, delivering attacking returns in nine of his previous 14 starts. Hazard thrives off being a showman and believes that it’s his duty to entertain the fans, even if that is sometimes detrimental to his scoring opportunities:

 “People pay to see us play, so I have to make them happy. Often, a dribble brings more joy than a goal. That’s when the people stand up to applaud. It’s part of my reflex: People want the show, they pay for it. You’re an actor. So let’s bring them pleasure. When I start a match, I tell myself: ‘I have to dribble. Today isn’t the day to score, it’s the day to dribble.’ This is my main quality.”

Van Gaal on Mata’s new penalty role

Juan Mata has been quietly impressive In Manchester United’s midfield of late, notching four goals and one assist in seven outings. The Red Devils downturn in form prior to last Gameweek (three straight defeats) might have dissuaded investment in the Spanish playmaker, yet his recent promotion to spot-kick taker could change that. Mata slotted home United’s penalty at Selhurst Park, after being given the nod over Wayne Rooney. Manager Louis van Gaal later revealed that the former Chelsea man was afforded the opportunity in light of Rooney and Robin van Persie missing their recent attempts:

 “Juan was third [in the list of takers] after Rooney and Van Persie and now he is first because Rooney and Van Persie missed their penalties…I had the idea that he would score this penalty. He shot low to the left corner and I think the Palace keeper is best going down to his right. So I was unsure but Mata did it because the shot had enough pace.”

Cleverley thanks Sherwood for freer role

Aside from Christian Benteke, Tom Cleverley is arguably the most-improved of Tim Sherwood’s charges during his brief tenure. With the former Spurs boss’ fresh attacking philosophy boosting his side’s survival bid, Cleverley has scored in three successive matches, equalling his tally for the past two seasons combined. In conversation with the club’s official site, Cleverley hailed Sherwood’s tactical tweak for affording him greater license to attack:

“He’s taken the shackles off a bit. He doesn’t mind his midfielders flooding the box as long as Westy or Carlos are holding the middle of the pitch. That’s brilliant for Fab and I! We’re scoring goals – and we feel like we can gamble a bit more. When you play with a smile on your face you always play better. I feel like the formation really suits my style of play because I feel I can get wide and inside. Fab and I have both got the legs to do that so it’s benefited me. The manager has got to be given credit for getting me where I’ve been in the last few weeks. I’m happy.”

Advocaat hails Graham’s renaissance

Danny Graham has forged a route back into Sunderland’s starting XI in recent weeks, earning back-to-back starts in the central striker role for the first time this season. The English forward notched a goal and an assist in match-ups against Southampton and Everton, strengthening his case for inclusion ahead of the Blacks Cats’ imminent double Gameweek (LEI, ars). Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat sung the praises of Graham following his debut goal for the Wearsiders last time out, highlighting just what he brings to the side:

“It is important for a striker that he scores goals, but it is also important for the team that he can keep hold of the ball and protect it. That gives other players the opportunity to support and then you start playing football. The movement we have in the team still has to improve, but we’ve had a better feeling about it. He gives everything, even in training. He never moans, he’s a real pro, you can see that. I had no doubts when you saw him in training that he would get that goal. We have three players up front now who can do something. Connor, Graham and Defoe know how to score because they’ve done it in the past. They’ve not forgotten it. It comes back.”

Pearson discusses Mahrez work-rate

Riyad Mahrez doubled his goal haul for the season with a brace against Southampton last weekend. The 4.9-priced midfielder enjoyed a six-match stretch from Gameweek 15 in which he tallied one goal and three assists before losing his place on the Leicester right flank to Marc Albrighton. The Algerian has thrived since being handed a central role behind the front two and Foxes boss Nigel Pearson admits that Mahrez is still adapting to his tactical demands, with improvement required on the defensive side of his displays:

“Riyad has had a very big learning curve in the past 18 months when you consider he joined from a small French club, coming into English football and a big change of culture. The Championship is not an easy division to settle in, in many ways, especially with the type of player he is. But he was a member of a Championship-winning side last year and went to the World Cup, played in the Africa Cup of Nations and played in the Premier League. That is a massive shift. It has been full-on. He hasn’t had any breaks. He probably gets a bit tired of myself and his team-mates reminding him what he has to do when we haven’t got the ball, but that is part of it. For us to be an effective side, we have to have all our players understand how the team functions. To be fair to him, he has had a very good season on the back of that 18 months.”