Oscar's evolution crucial in Chelsea coping without Costa

COMMENT: The Brazilian netted a sublime free kick to give his team the lead early on and dropped deep to dominate the game before laying on a superb winning goal for Cesc Fabregas

Before the teams were announced and Diego Costa's hamstrings threatened to become the story of Chelsea’s visit to Crystal Palace on Saturday, much of the pre-match narrative centred around an illuminating interview Jose Mourinho gave to Gary Neville for The Telegraph and, in particular, his comments about trying to coax the best out of star man Eden Hazard.

"The week before against Arsenal, I was on him every day – be decisive," the Portuguese revealed.

"Don’t be happy with doing nice things. Don’t be happy being up and down in the game. You have to do something in the game that wins the game for us."

Hazard delivered for his manager in spades against the Gunners and, when the final whistle blew at Selhurst Park, it was tempting to wonder whether Mourinho has, at some point since the World Cup, taken the opportunity to have a similar conversation with Oscar.

For the slender Brazilian, one of his manager’s favoured lightning rods as Chelsea’s title challenge limply fell away in the final weeks of last season, is unquestionably back to his electrifying and brilliant best.

It was not simply the sublime curling free-kick that silenced a raucous home crowd in the sixth minute - his third goal in five matches - that lends itself to such a conclusion. Evidence was to be found all afternoon, all over the pitch, as Oscar drifted effortlessly between advanced and deep midfield positions, knitting things together and impudently dodging Crystal Palace’s committed attempts to disrupt Chelsea’s passing rhythm.

"He’s not a No.10 that plays with the ball on his feet," a visibly delighted Mourinho insisted after the match. "He’s a No.10 that looks back and looks to the side, analyses the game and sees where the team needs him to move to get the ball and also where the team needs him to move to create balance.

"In the first half when they had James McArthur playing man-to-man on Fabregas, I was so happy because Fabregas was taking him from the central area and Oscar was dropping back to play, and he and Matic controlled the game completely for us."

Oscar spent most of his time alongside the giant Serb, forming a classic little and large duo, but their effectiveness was such that it was Mile Jedinak and James McArthur who ended up resembling the comic turn in a game that took on a slightly surreal air after two quickfire red cards in the opening 45 minutes.
Yet he still had time to venture forward and play a key role in the scintillating move that won the match. Fabregas and Hazard initiated what seemed an innocuous enough passing interchange on the edge of the penalty area, before ramping up the pace and difficulty with a one-touch passage of play that resulted in Oscar brilliantly nudging the ball into Fabregas’ path in space, and the Spaniard kept his cool to send Speroni the wrong way.



Mourinho’s post-match admission that he has "no idea" when Costa will be fit to return should be a reality check to anyone inclined to proclaim Chelsea the new champions before Christmas, particularly as Loic Remy showed little to suggest he is yet capable of consistently filling the boots of the world’s in-form striker.

But the visitors’ second goal provided an emphatic reminder that even without Costa, Chelsea currently possess three of the most accomplished and imaginative footballers on the planet operating at the very height of their abilities. Hazard and Fabregas have been there for a while. Oscar joining them is promising.

"Oscar in this moment is not a No.10," Mourinho added. "He had an evolution; a mental, tactical evolution that allows him in my opinion to be a fantastic player. Can he improve physically? Of course. People forget he’s still 23. He arrived here two years ago and people forget he’s still so young. But he’s in great conditions for an evolution."

Sterner tests await, but if Oscar’s "evolution" continues, Chelsea will be hard to stop – with or without Costa.

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