The one thing we can all agree on, I think, is that Oscar has failed to live up to the expectations that were set for him four years ago, when he arrived with great promise from the 2011 U20 World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics and made a most memorable Champions League debut against Juventus. Whether you think that's because he's just not that good or you think he's just not consistent enough is another matter, and one that can be (and has been) debated for years on end.
In his time at Chelsea, Oscar has been through four managers, two of whom relied on him almost unreservedly and two interim appointments who used him much more sparingly. Will Conte follow in Di Matteo's and Mourinho's footsteps? While the latter anointed Oscar as his chosen No.10 around whom to build the team, the former did experiment with putting Oscar in a deeper position, just as we had surmised could be a possible career path for the then 21-year-old. RDM was sacked before he could figure it all out. But if Tony Banks of the Express is to be believed, our newest Italian manager will look to revive that line of thinking, as long as Oscar takes his "chance to impress" (and no big offers arrive for him from China or wherever else ... say, Juventus?).
Exclusive: Antonio Conte tells Oscar he wants him to stay at Chelsea | @TonyBanksXPhttps://t.co/EfVzGusiQp pic.twitter.com/DlOYKerQ4R
— Express Sport (@DExpress_Sport) June 9, 2016
A diminished role towards the end of the season and a full summer of rest should mean that Oscar, once greatly overworked, will be as rested as he's been in a very long time.
Ready to be impressed!