Having been shown exactly what is possible with a true defensive midfielder by Manchester United, the play was evident.
Whereas the Blues needed to pack out their midfield to cope with Erik ten Hag's system, Casemiro alone allowed United to build from a steady base with Christian Eriksen as a silent architect for tempo and Bruno Fernandes the maverick creator.
Meanwhile, for Chelsea, it took them a three man midfield of Jorginho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic before a foothold was gained and they could think about holding back their opponents. None of Graham Potter's midfielders have the accumen to play the role that Casemiro did and that's all too evident.
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This hasn't gone unnoticed but there's current nothing that Potter can do about it. He's working with the tools given to him and until a transfer window he will have to keep patching up problems. When January does come though, expect a big push for a midfielder straight away. Be it Edson Alvarez - who they went for late on in the summer - or more notable targets such as Declan Rice or Jude Bellingham, the revamp is on for Todd Boehly and it starts now.
Such is the need for at least one midfielder, though really two is a minimum due to the contract situations of Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, Chelsea's shortlist is extensive. Transfer expert Simon Phillips revealed some extra names to keep tabs on, saying, "Chelsea are looking at Edson Alvarez from Ajax, Moises Caicedo from Brighton, Weston McKennie from Juventus, and Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle. The latter seems ambitious."
Speaking to GiveMeSport, he added: "Chelsea have a shortlist of midfielders they are looking at for a priority area in January, and again in the summer. Declan Rice is more possible come the summer rather than in January, same goes for Jude Bellingham, but I think he goes to either Liverpool or Real Madrid.”
Out of that list, Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes is one name that perhaps stands out, especially after another excellent performance for Eddie Howe's side in a 2-1 win against Tottenham. The Brazilian only joined in January but has taken quickly to life in England well.
The 24-year-old is already considered one of the best in his position and is versatile between a deep role, playing in a pivot and being more attacking. He already has two goals and two assists this season and got five goals with one assist in half a season last term.
Guimaraes cost £38m in January and the spending spree of Newcastle secured his signing before other European clubs could get him through the door. Even in the summer Real Madrid looked to him as a possible replacement for Casemiro in their own midfield overhaul. It may be an unlikely deal but as Chelsea saw at the weekend, if Casemiro can control a game on his own then the Blues desperately need to find an answer, and a literal Casemiro replacement might be the place to look.
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