Jose Mourinho’s team had their head among the clouds last season, but have quickly come crashing back down to earth after a woeful first month to their Premier League title defence.
Chelsea ended August sitting in 13th on the ladder, a scenario that would have been unthinkable to most football observers leading into the campaign. Just four points collected in the same amount of games is just one of many shocking contrasts about this team, that had been undefeated for 15+ outings at this time last year.
First Four Games
There were signs that something was not quite right when the Blues conceded twice at Stamford Bridge against Swansea City on the opening weekend. With three goals scored within a 10 minute period, the hosts were ahead 2-1, yet a red card shown to Thibaut Courtois after the break allowed Bafetembi Gomis to equalise from the penalty spot.
What may have seemed like a small crack was quickly blown wide open in the following match though, at the home of arguably their closest title rivals Manchester City. Chelsea looked sluggish from the outset and a rampant Sergio Aguero left John Terry and Gary Cahill chasing shadows until he opened the scoring. It was such an uninspiring display from the Blues’ captain that he was substituted at half-time. There was nothing that could be done against a Sky Blue side that has been playing at their peak, however, and a demoralised London outfit were convincingly beaten 3-0.
Chelsea would finally record their first three points of the campaign on the road against West Ham. New arrival Pedro made his starting team debut and right away looked to be somewhat of a game changer, scoring the team’s first and providing an assist for Diego Costa. Despite Terry’s sending-off for a goal-saving tackle on James Morrison, a 3-2 victory was a desperately-needed result. But the nerves will be just as high again after the latest 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace, where a defence in shambles was again picked apart by quick opposition. The ‘Special One’ was dealt just his second defeat one home turf, in what was his 100th game as Chelsea manager.
Transfer Window Performance
When Chelsea has set their sights on a transfer target, it is rare that the resources of Roman Abramovic do not succeed in getting their man. Yet, the name that was at the top of Mourinho’s list, centre-back John Stones, has proved too elusive, at least in this summer transfer window. Big money offers were repeatedly rejected by the Merseysiders, and even a transfer request from the player himself was not enough to force a move from Goodison Park.
To add strength to the backline, Mourinho has bought Baba Rahman from FC Augsburg for £14 million and also made the deadline day signing of central defender Papy Djilobodji from French side Nantes. Other high-profile arrivals included Pedro for £21.4 million, goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Stoke City and the year-long loan of Radamel Falcao from Monaco.
Two of Stamford Bridge’s icons departed in the summer, as Didier Drogba joined MLS side Montreal Impact and Petr Cech made the short journey across London to become a member of the Arsenal line up, in search of regular football.
Key Player – Eden Hazard
It would have been easy to lose count of the number of times that Eden Hazard almost single-handedly won a game for Chelsea last season. 2014-15’s Premier League player of the season, there was no stopping the Belgian as he would race around defenders and into the 18-yard area, hugging the touchline before sending the ball home himself or laying-off for a simple finish.
This time around though, Hazard is being marked to a point of invisibility, only able to get off one shot on goal in each of the four games so far and recording only nine crosses into the box. The Blues’ attack is being strangled at the moment and there is seemingly no ‘Plan B’ in terms of creating chances, but the team will need some of the 24-year-old’s individual brilliance to return if the season is going to turn around.
What has worked?
It has been a mostly dark sky above Stamford Bridge so far, as Mourinho’s tactics have been beaten by opposition teams with speedy wingers and powerful forwards. If something could be singled out as a positive, it would be the impact that the signing of Pedro had on the attacking play, which was almost non-existent before his arrival in the third week. In the same vein as Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal, the 28-year-old brings creativity from his time at Barcelona that is hard for Premier League defenders to deal with at first. Under a constant injury cloud, star striker Costa has also been looking more dangerous as the weeks pass, and even Radamel Falcao has opened his scoring account.
What needs improvement?
It is no secret that Chelsea’s biggest problems are coming in the defence. A team that last season could frustrate opposition supporters beyond breaking point with their ability to sit inside their own 18-yard box and absorb pressure for nearly 90 minutes, is now leaking goals due to amateur-level mistakes.
After immediately becoming a hero with three goals and 18 assists in the Premier League last season, Cesc Fabregas looks less-and-less of the magician that the blue faithful sing of with each passing match. His position on the pitch is isolating the Spaniard from truly being able to create any attacks and is increasing the pressure on holding-midfield partner Nemanja Matic, who when pulled just that metre or two higher, exposes the space needed to terrorise Ivanovic deep on the right-flank.
Looking at the Chelsea starting XI, largely unchanged and most of which played close to every minute of multiple competitions last season, one gets the sense that there is still some wear and tear lingering on the squad. None have been under the spotlight more than the captain. For a 34-year-old, Terry’s performances were superhuman on the way to title glory, but the years have seemingly caught up with him overnight.
For all the jokes surrounding the strategy, ‘parking the bus’ was simple, yet effective for Mourinho due to the world-class performances his players were putting-in each week. However, with the shine temporarily gone from names such as Fabregas, Matic and Hazard, it is too easy for the opposition to defend their toothless attacks and then breakdown a lethargic defence on the counter.
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Next four games
Hopefully having taken the chance to settle the early season jitters over the international break, an unforgiving journey to Goodison Park poses the next test for the reigning champions. A London derby at home with Arsenal follows and games against Newcastle and Southampton close out their next domestic month.
All of the latter three are teams that took points from the Blues during 2014-15, and adding to the concerns will be the fact that each of these games has a European or League Cup commitment in-between.
For the moment, Mourinho’s game plan looks to have been figured out and with few alternatives after a transfer window focused almost solely on Stones, Chelsea will need the names that dominated the Premier League last season to step back up with authority. At their best, no game is unwinnable for the Blues and logic would dictate that they will climb back into contention, yet with two losses already on the board, there is little leniency in terms of dropping any more points.
Grade – D-
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