Yeah he was VERY good, and usually is, but I think he has been bit lost this season, in being mainly DM and limited overall movement. He isnt a great DM, but is jack of trades who needs to involved in overall play, but Mourinho him strictly as a DM who sits infront of the defence has made him look bleaker then he usually been.
And the main point I disagreed with is that you said he is more important then Zlatan (only reason we can get back in scudetto game is he is injured 2 months like he was last spring, Roma catched up to 11 pts lead), even isnt close to as important. Neither with Maicon.