Five players who changed their positions at Chelsea as Enzo Maresca's winning mentality shows through
Chelsea have always had players who came in and had to adapt their game to succeed at the club
Enzo Maresca loves players who can play in different positions, and it's common to see Malo Gusto pushing high up the pitch, even as part of a double number in games, or Moisés Caicedo slotting into a three-man defence. Reece James has also played at left-back, but this is not a new concept in Chelsea's history. In fact, many of the club's title-winning and cup-winning teams have had players performing well in unusual roles. As a refresher, here are five outstanding Chelsea players who made key contributions in positions that were not typically their primary role:
César Azpilicueta
The Spaniard arrived at Chelsea in the summer after they won the Champions League in Munich. He was a 21-year-old right-back, but in the 2013/14 season, José Mourinho decided that Azpilicueta's defensive qualities would provide more solidity at left-back than the ageing Ashley Cole. In the 2014/15 season, when Chelsea won the Premier League, Azpilicueta remained as the club's left-back, playing in 29 of the 38 league matches. ‘Dave’ also had a fine stint on the right side of a central back three, further showcasing his invaluable versatility.
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Many people think of Shaun Wright-Phillips as a winger, but in order to secure a regular starting spot at Chelsea, he adapted to play as a midfielder. In the 2006/07 season, during a famous FA Cup replay win at White Hart Lane, Wright-Phillips played on the right side of a midfield diamond, with Frank Lampard on the left, operating ahead of John Obi Mikel and behind Michael Ballack. Andriy Shevchenko gave Chelsea the lead, and Wright-Phillips scored an outstanding second goal to seal a 2-1 victory. Throughout that season, Wright-Phillips frequently played in a midfield three, with Joe Cole operating as the right-winger in a front three. Chelsea won both the League Cup and the FA Cup that season.
Michael Essien
In that same FA Cup final, Michael Essien stepped away from his usual role in midfield and even his occasional stint at right-back to partner John Terry in central defence, with full-backs Paulo Ferreira and Wayne Bridge flanking him. Regular centre-backs Ricardo Carvalho and Alex were both injured. For nearly two hours, including extra time, Chelsea's defence held firm against Champions Manchester United, and Didier Drogba later scored the winning goal.
David Luiz
David Luiz was known as a central defender for Chelsea, both under Antonio Conte and as part of the Brazilian national team. However, in 2012/13, under caretaker manager Rafa Benítez, Luiz was pushed into midfield alongside Frank Lampard. His passing ability and strength allowed him to thrive in the role, and he played a pivotal part in Chelsea's Europa League win that season, including the final against Benfica in Amsterdam. Luiz remained in midfield the following season, including in the 2013/14 Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid.
Ron Harris
Chelsea's all-time appearance record holder, with 795 matches played, Ron Harris was a stalwart across the back four. Known as ‘Chopper’ for his tough, no-nonsense tackling, he was a fan favourite. However, in his final season with the first team, Harris was pushed forward into central midfield, playing 38 of the 42 matches in the old Division Two. Chelsea finished fourth, and Harris surprised many with his passing ability, which had not been a prominent feature of his game during his previous 16 years at the club.