Why Gary Cahill should stay put at Chelsea amidst interest from Galatasaray
As The Sun puts it down, Chelsea have allowed Gary Cahill to hold talks with Turkish side Galatasaray. Cahill’s contract runs till the end of this season and the Blues are yet to offer him a new contract. Maurizio Sarri has stuck to the pairing of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the defence, while including Denmark’s Andreas Christensen on the bench.
The Mirror claims that Cahill is determined to stay at Chelsea and fight for a place in the team despite being frozen out of the side by the new manager. The 32-year-old centre-back, who currently earns wages in the region of £85,000-a-week, was not included in any of the matchday squads as Chelsea registered three wins from their first three games.
As it seems, Sarri does not want to include the English international in his plans but Cahill has done the right thing by staying put at Stamford Bridge. And it is a good decision for both parties involved.
Although he is 32, the Englishman has lost none of his hunger and eagerness to compete at the highest level as seen from his performance in the FA Cup final against Manchester United. As the ongoing season progresses, Chelsea could certainly utilize his experience.
A move to Galatasaray might have provided Cahill with more game time but it would not have been a wise decision at this stage of his career. Cahill is familiar to the Premier League’s atmosphere and the system that prevails at Stamford Bridge. He has played in the English top-flight since 2004 and the likelihood of him rejuvenating his career at Chelsea is definitely more than what it would be at Galatasaray. Furthermore, at 32, any major injury could spell a possible disaster for his career.
There is another way of looking at things. Although Chelsea have begun their Premier League campaign on a high, the Blues have been far from convincing at the back. David Luiz seems to have little understanding with his partner Antonio Rudiger and the duo has struggled to maintain the same line, often allowing the opposition to exploit empty spaces.
While Rudiger seems to have picked his rhythm slowly, Luiz has been a liability for Chelsea’s defence. In the game against Newcastle, the Brazilian hardly had anything to do for the entire match but failed to rescue the team as Joselu beat him and headed in the equalizer.
Luiz’s lacklustre performances should be a cause of concern for Sarri and it won’t be long before the new manager decides to replace him. Also, the fact that Luiz has had his fair share of troubles with injuries in the past, should urge Sarri to include defensive options in the reserves. And Cahill should benefit from such circumstances.
Being the most experienced centre-back in the squad, Cahill is capable of acting as a leader for the backline. The 32-year-old is strong and there are not many around who can beat him in the air. He is good with his positioning and has the composure to make crucial tackles and blocks in the penalty area. Rarely does he lose his head and commit unnecessary fouls.
Even though he has not been included in any of the matchday squads so far, Cahill is arguably the most technically-gifted defender in Chelsea’s ranks. His aerial presence can be an asset to the team and his knack for scoring goals at crucial moments could prove to be handy for the Blues.
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Chelsea must perform well at all fronts with the kind of money they have spent and that demands a strong squad with ample depth. Even if Cahill does not get adequate opportunities in the Premier League, Sarri must call upon the services of the trusted veteran in the UEFA Europa League and domestic cup competitions.
