When you have a midfield lead by Fabregas and arrowing into the striker with Oscar, Willian, Schurrle and Hazard, you do not expect Ramires to be of much significant. But, he is one of the underrated performers of the team.
Nemanja Matic is a solid anchor in the team, let’s not doubt that. But while he moves around a lot, he is not exactly fast. Ramires however is a work horse in the centre of the park, running around in the field stealing the ball back. He is not clinical or great with crosses, so he cannot be used as a winger. There is pace but no accuracy in crosses, which is precisely why Andre Villa Boas failed to use him well.
But Mourinho and his tactical brilliance saw a role perfect for him. And that role is not a cameo, it is often pivotal in the dying minutes of the game. He is used as a mobile and energetic defensive midfielder, where he is NOT supposed to stay and cover the centre backs like Matic. He is supposed to run around and steal the ball from the tired opposition midfield. His pace and energy outclasses the players who are slower than him and more tired than him.
In the match against Leicester City, when the foxes were attacking relentlessly even though they were tired, Mourinho brought on Ramires. He completely dominated the midfield, making sure they had the ball and kept breaking attacks and build ups by his incessant running. He is like Jordan Henderson from Liverpool, but with more speed.
Surely a master stroke from the ‘Chosen One’.
Source: DSG
