by Michael Sawh

Created on: September 20, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

When Cristiano Ronaldo leapt above an out of position Michael Essien to head Manchester United ahead in last year's UEFA Champions League final, it was yet another glaring indignation of a lengthily defensive indiscretion which the West London club could no longer ignore.

Essien figures amongst a list of players who have valiantly but ultimately failed to fill the void of a much warranted world class right-back, a problem to have prominently figured throughout the financial flurry of the Abramovich era. Glen Johnson now of Portsmouth, was the first signing ushered in under the Russian revolution, yet the young English right back's unquestionable potential could not disguise the inexperience that was so visible in his brief stay at the club.

Five years on and many right-back and makeshift right-backs later, Chelsea may have finally stumbled on the answer to all their full back inadequacies. Portuguese international Jose Bosingwa arrived from Portuguese league champions FC Porto in the summer for the sum of 16.3m. The twenty-six year old, highly coveted by rivals Manchester United is seen as a major coup for the club and comes with the type of reputation that could soon see him as the missing piece in an otherwise irrepressible defensive outfit.

A mainstay in a dominant FC Porto side, Bosingwa's consistent, energetic performances helped his former club to four league titles in five seasons and successive Champions League qualification. On the international scene he has managed to oust the highly regarded Miguel and current Chelsea team mate Paulo Ferreira from the right back berth particularly showing his growing defensive stature in this year's European Championships.

Should new Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari wish to adopt a style which utilizes the use of fleeting full backs, he will surely believe that along with Ashley Cole, he now has two players capable of energetically marauding up and down the pitch to aid and support Chelsea's attacking play. Bosingwa has the pace, and the athleticism to match the work rate of opposite full back Cole, and shows a natural willingness to influence the game further forward. Towering slightly taller than your average full back, Bosingwa should also pose a threat at set pieces and bring a heightened presence in crucial defensive situations.

His direct competition for the right back role comes in the shape of Portuguese counterpart Paulo Ferreira, and Brazilian Juliano Belletti. Ferreira, brought in by former manager Jose

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>