Jose Mourinho and Oscar are a Perfect Match at Chelsea

Jose Mourinho's reappointment as Chelsea manager has added a whole new dimension to the usual silly season speculation. The Telegraph have reported than Mourinho is seeking to overhaul the squad, while the man himself will be restricted by UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules. 

While we wind down the time until preseason training begins in July, there is little to do but gossip about who will stay and who will go under Mourinho. There have been questions over the future of the Three Amigos, with Oscar's role in the trio under particular scrutiny.

The youngest Amigo is currently representing Brazil at the Confederations Cup. He has often been accused of lacking the same qualities that Eden Hazard and Juan Mata bring to the Chelsea side, but this criticism is unfair and unfounded. It is true that Mata and Hazard racked up 26 goals and 34 assists between them last season, but Oscar's contribution to the team runs deeper.

In the Premier League last season, Oscar made 86 tackles compared to the combined total of 53 from Hazard and Mata, as well as 32 clearances to their total of eight. This is alongside a total of 60 shots to Hazard's 63 and Mata's 70, despite starting seven more games from the substitutes' bench. 

In the opening game of the Confederations Cup between Brazil and Japan, Oscar ran the show. The 21-year-old made four tackles and two effective clearances, alongside two key passes and an assist for Jo's late goal. This feat is all the more remarkable when you consider the fact that his 1.79m frame is carrying just 66kg of weight.

There have been suggestions that he needs to beef up in order to effectively play deeper in midfield, but his performances to date have proven that this is not the case. In fact, Oscar is exactly the sort of player whom Jose Mourinho loves to work with.

In all of Mourinho's teams over the years, the box-to-box midfielder has been a key central figure. During his first spell at Chelsea it was Michael Essien, at Inter Milan it was Wesley Sneijder, and at Real Madrid it was Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso.

Oscar is the perfect player to take up this mantle in Mourinho's new Chelsea. His versatility allows him to operate effectively in attack as well as offering defensive cover, while his ability to read the game sees him frequently appear in the right place at the right time.

His English is not great, and the language barrier was obviously a difficulty with both Roberto Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez. However, Mourinho's native language is Portuguese, and while he is unlikely to allow Oscar to go another year without improving his English, this will solve any communication issues that may have existed.

Then there is the fact that Mourinho has told several sources that he is at Chelsea for the long term. Oscar's youth and natural ability make him the perfect project for The Especially Happy One as he looks to build a dynasty at Stamford Bridge.

With Mourinho excited for the times to come, all signs point towards the beginning of a long, happy and successful relationship for the pair.

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com