Xabi Alonso has Found His Midfield Protege in Nicoll-Jazuli

Analzying Mahdi Nicol-Jazuli’s performance against Juventus

Chelsea’s teenage sensation is turning heads in preseason so far and has been growing from strength to strength, since he came on at half time against Western Sydney Wanderers. He also impressed again when he started against Juventus in the midfield pivot along side Caicedo.

Off the ball he would be beside Caicedo in the 4-4-2 pivot, and when Chelsea were on the ball, he would be part of the 3-2-5 shape that often became a 3-1-6 when MNJ pushed up in the left half-space

When it became a 3-1-6, MNJ then goes into the left Half space and it then looked something like a 2 ST system and he will be the one to connect Gittens and even attack the box from there when the ball went wide to Palestra and Quenda.

One of the first things you notice about him is the way hes is very aware of his surroundings, does lots of scans, left and right before receiving the ball, so he’s aware of the pressure that is on him and he is very calm and measured when receiving the ball, past how he should for his age. He always wants the ball, asking for it, scans and receives. Lets see this scenario of a simple but effective movement and scanning to create space to receive the pass and scan to be free of his marker.

Now, even before Tosin gets the ball, MNJ was already reading the play and of course its also trained as well, but he understands the timing of opening space for Tosin to find a forward pass and before he receives,

He checks, left and right (scans) and sees hes free to receive, ball bobbles (the pitch) but he keeps it under control and links up with Caicedo

What was even more impressive was the passing move he was involved in just minutes after that got Chelsea fans raving. A first glimpse of Xabi Alonso’s third man midfield play. He first of all just from a jogging position accelerates to receive the ball and asks for it from Fofana, giving him a diagonal option and if you do that from a jogging position, it makes it harder for your opponent to quickly match your reaction and you will get to the ball first inevitably. MNJ did a bounce pass to 3rd man Caicedo.

Caicedo initiates a wonderful move to Welbeck and back and now finds MNJ as the new third man in that sequence. MNJ receives and uses the inside of his right to find Gitttens.

Whats as striking about it is the way MNJ looked like hes been playing in the first team for years and did not look out of place. No technical mistakes to break down the move, everything flowed.

To highlight his also balanced work off the ball, in the same sequence, when Gittens lost the ball, guess who was there right in position to win it back. This time MNJ committed a foul, but he was right in position to force a turnover as Chelsea’s counter press especially in the 1st half was one of the positives of the game.

To highlight his positional sense at this young age. This instance, Hato received the ball from deep. He recognized the space and time Hato had to drive with the ball and didn’t occupy the space, instead sticking where he was and drawing a marker near himself so Hato can drive with the ball.

After the run, Hato was now in the inside forward position. Now MNJ noticed this and stayed back as the last man on the left side since Hato had gone forward.

He offered himself to Gittens as a passing option. He didn’t get it, but the positioning was important because, once Juventus won the ball and tried to attack, he was there to snuff the danger out quickly with the Counter press.

So when it was also time to defend his box, he was first to the ball, when Sanchez flapped at a cross. Won his 50/50 twice and tried to even start a counterattack at the same time as we have seen he can carry the ball as well.

His Job in the press was to press Locatelli, as Chelsea were pressing M2M. So when Chelsea were pressing him, he was his man.

A midfielder with legs along with a possession play oriented brain and ability to carry the ball is all Chelsea fans have wanted in this window. He showed elements of those there. Just to note, hes is ahead if Caicedo fitness wise based on Caicedo just resuming preseason, but its also good to note that he out sprinted Caicedo to get there, shows his desire off the ball, not many young players have this, less 16 year olds.

One thing I loved about him is the sharpness he has in recognizing space and passing the ball into it very quickly. He did so after Chelsea won a pressing situation against Spurs where he played in Estevao for a big chance which he missed and he did the same for Nico Jackson here.

Is it breaking the lines from deep? He can do it as well. Here he finds Joao Pedro, and he isn’t hesitant to play the pass. Joao Pedro wins a foul. He doesn’t look fussed or scared.

Is he physical enough for men’s football ? Many challenges showed so, but this one in particular was interesting as he clearly wrestled Augusto Owusu off the ball and won it in this sequence when he was clearly 2nd favourite.

Only issues were more with the shape of the team when Juve switched wide and Chelsea were caught between pressing and keeping a highline and it created space for cutbacks because the CBs dropped really and the midfielders have to cover up that space but are too far to do so. It’s a team issue that Xabi needs to solve not an individual problem.

As first starts for Chelsea goes for a 16 year old, even in preseason, this was extremely impressive. MNJ showed everything that Chelsea’s midfield need right now, bar the passing range and creativity we need in the final third which is asking too much of him when he is a different profile of player. Chelsea need to handle his development very carefully but for now, we will just let the young man play ball and enjoy himself living his dream.