It was seventeen years ago that Chelsea last failed to win their opening two league fixtures. Perhaps Mourinho’s men are a touch misfortunate to have faced title rivals – and a firing-on-all-cylinders – Manchester City away from home so early into this year’s campaign, but perhaps it’s also a sign that in this ever evolving sport – arguably a business in many eyes – where money shouts so loudly, there is no time to rest on your laurels while others improve; Sunday’s demolition at the Etihad emphasises the need for Chelsea to build on their success by stepping up again, and again and again, because yesterday’s triumph does not necessarily work for a new day, and in this case a new season.
Fernandinho’s late strike sealed a convincing win for Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, and put a final nail in the coffin of a miserable day for the Blues.
The build up to the game never looked promising for the side that had been put in the spotlight all week over medical team quarrels and red card appeals. City, meanwhile, had gone into the game off of an impressive 3-0 victory over West Brom – Â a win that reminded the media and in fact the footballing world that the side from Manchester are to be feared this season.
The story was similar from the first whistle on Sunday, with Sergio Aguero fortunately only converting one of a series of chances within the half hour mark, which could have seen Mourinho’s side 2-0 down in the opening ten minutes.
Defensive frailties have never been so apparent, at least certainly not in the new era of Jose Mourinho, his side boasting one of the best defensive records in England last term; but five goals conceded in the opening two fixtures and only a scarce number of shots at goal leaves the Blues struggling to find the balance they acquired from the off last season.
Shortly after the game Chelsea announced the signing of Abdul Baba Rahman from Augsburg, a promising young full back, ideal for the shake up the Blues seemingly need at the back. You could count on one hand the number of times John Terry has been hooked off at half time in his career, but is that a sign of things to come for the skipper? If so, surely the remaining days of the transfer window should be spent wisely, either making a big offer for Stones, or looking elsewhere for a long-term replacement – because time may be running out.
Branislav Ivanovic has received heavy criticism for his start to the season; run ragged by Montero and turned inside out by Raheem Sterling, perhaps it’s time the Serbian, who has been an ever present figure in Chelsea’s years of success, is challenged for his position. It’s been tough to reject the right-back’s claim for a spot in recent seasons because his unorthodox but regular occurrence on the scoresheet often sugarcoats his defensive liabilities. One thing that became clear in Sunday’s game was that we often lack width due to the ineptitude of our full backs to overlap, or put in threatening crosses demonstrated in particular by Kolarov of Manchester City.
Gary Neville pointed out Cesc Fabregas’ difficulties in being the challenger for the ball in the holding midfield role; Neville pointed out ‘It’s here where he’s brilliant’ as Fabregas had the ball in space, but that was an irregular factor of the game, further undermined by the Spaniard’s absence of a final ball in the opening to this new season, and notably on Sunday his set piece delivery.
It would seem bizarre eight months ago to think we would be questioning the place of Cesc Fabregas in the Chelsea team, as before the turn of the year he had broken record after record from the holding midfield role. He, at times crucially, lacks pace when in the number 10 role, and in big games often struggles to control the likes of David Silva from a defensive position – so where does his job lie in the big games? Arguably Mourinho needs something different to offer when Fabregas falls ineffective. A Verratti figure. Ramires is neither here nor there when it comes to his role in midfield; the Brazilian isn’t brilliant with the ball at his feet, out wide, and there are many flaws in his distribution when placed in a central position. Surely a side challenging for major European honours should have a little more in the locker.
Whether Jose decides the problem can be fixed with his array of youth talent (Loftus-Cheek remained an unused sub in Sunday’s fixture), or the go-ahead is given in the remaining days of the transfer window, it is pivotal that changes are made. Chelsea cannot rest on their laurels and play as they did towards the end of last season. Teams have strengthened; their adapting to defend against the likes of Eden Hazard, who, like the rest of the team, must step up another gear if he wishes to fulfil his golden-boy potential.
A season that continues as this one has begun – despite the inevitability of a high-placed finish – may leave Mourinho and Chelsea trophyless come May.