Chelsea supporters praised 25-year-old Axel Disasi after his outstanding performance as Man of the Match against Manchester City on Saturday night.
At The Etihad, the Frenchman retrieved the ball five times, made sixteen clearances, made three blocks, and was only ever dribbled past once.
Fans were drawing comparisons between him and cult hero Antonio Rudiger based on his response to blocks and tackles.
The center-back is already proving his early detractors wrong after being a constant this season, starting 23 of a possible 25 Premier League games. The former Monaco player was signed in the summer amid a backdrop of criticism, with many doubting if he was a necessary signing.
Disasi led the backline alongside gifted rookie Levi Colwill against City because regular defensive partner Thiago Silva was not present. Disasi performed admirably in a Chelsea shirt and flourished in that role.
Disasi’s injury sustained in the 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace prevented him from playing, and his absence from the match could not have come at a worse moment for the Brazilian.
Silva’s role as a consistent starter has been called into doubt by many Chelsea supporters. Although his footballing brain is still functioning at 39, his legs are failing him, and teams with balls in behind are too frequently picking him apart.
By playing Silva, the defense sits lower and there is a larger gap between the midfield and the center backs, giving opponents much more room to exploit. The squad is also forced to make too many tactical changes as a result of Silva’s involvement.
With Silva out of the picture, Mauricio Pochettino faces a dilemma, but it should come as no surprise that Chelsea put on two of its best defensive displays away from home against Manchester City and Aston Villa without him.
Everyone eventually faces the passage of time, and Silva is no exception.
