Analysis: Why Branislav Ivanovic is the Blues’ most underrated player

Eden Hazard steals the show as the brilliant youngster, Frank Lampard stands up as a living legend on the pitch and Nemanja Matic pencils himself in as the prodigal son turned shiny new £21m signing. Table-toppers Chelsea have plenty of firepower and household names to look to for headlines on a day-to-day basis, but at the heart of it all lies one of the most consistent presences in the Premier League.

Strong, versatile, determined and a consummate professional – all terms that could be used to describe one Branislav Ivanovic.

In a squad like Jose Mourinho’s that boasts both exciting youthful talents and an old guard still carrying the flame, at times it’s almost agonisingly too easy to overlook the Serbian.

That is, even despite the fact that he’s an absolute rock in the starting eleven for the Blues.

Only three times in the Premier League has the 29-year-old failed to complete a full 90 minutes, forced from the pitch with an injury against Liverpool in late December to miss the two following contests.

Outside of this trio of occasions, Ivanovic has soaked up every minute available to him, serving as a constant for a side sitting in pole position in the race for the title.

With a Performance Score of 515, he ranks in as the fifth most prolific individual on the Blues’ roster – outperforming the likes of Oscar and Willian, despite the pair of Brazilians’ always seeming to have a greater opportunity to seize the spotlight.

It’s Ivanovic’s consistency in tandem with his quality that makes him such a vital cog in Mourinho’s system, his ability to affect games from the right-back position beyond the capacity of the high majority of his counterparts.

From a defensive standpoint, the Serbian’s physicality and precision makes him a force to be reckoned with.

Along with having made the fourth most tackles in the Chelsea squad with 39, he’s proved the most efficient in the art of anybody at the club in leading the way with a 58% success rate – barring strikers Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba.

And in the air, Ivanovic is unparalleled by any of his team-mates, having won 93 headed duels at a victorious clip of 70% – 23 more than his closest competitor in the high-rising Gary Cahill.

Add in 139 clearances on the side and a comprehensive view of a staunch stopper comes into full focus.

But what’s most impressive is that Ivanovic is able to accomplish all that he does at the back whilst maintaining a dangerous edge going forward.

Not the sprightliest of full-backs at 6 foot 2 inches and carrying a frame more indicative of his former life as a central defender, he makes use of a bright mind and excellent technique rather than pace to succeed going forward.

With 11 take-ons to his name, Ivanovic isn’t one to constantly look to beat his man with skill, but he is a discerning dribbler that can employ trickery to make his way through if the situation calls for it.

When finding enough space to make a delivery, he has a penchant for picking out his man – as proven by 15 chances created to date – able to whip the ball into the box from out wide, or cut inside to exchange passes in more central areas.

And not to be forgotten are his contributions in front of goal – three strikes trailing just Seamus Coleman and Martin Skrtel for defenders goals in the Premier League.

Further to this point, Ivanovic is known to be quite timely with his goalscoring exploits – having most notably having hit the winner in the Blues’ massive clash with Manchester City earlier this month, adding to a list of notable efforts including the winner in last term’s Europa League final and an endearing brace opposite Liverpool in the Champions League knockouts in 2009.

Ivanovic’s excellence most definitely isn’t lost on the Chelsea faithful – he’s a fan favorite for his tenacity and all-action displays, his displays embody the vision of his current manager at Stamford Bridge.

But perhaps, the Serbian isn’t appreciated to the fullest extent outside of those in west London, his importance to the club’s cause not receiving the far-reaching recognition it deserves with others such as Hazard to look to.

And so, he just may be the most under-emphasised player at Chelsea this term, quite possibly in the past few years as well.

What Ivanovic provides is something few others in England can claim, and the willingness to go about his job without the need for utmost fanfare a noble claim.

Ivanovic is certainly essential to the side’s chances of success this term, although he does not take the spotlight too often – he provides the balance going forward and crucially is a rock in defence. And this is why he is Chelsea’s most underrated player, as the Blues stunning attack gets all plaudits, yet this is the man who keeps Chelsea silently steady from the back.