Are Chelsea Players Under Pressure Before Their FC Porto Clash?
If recent results were any indication, Chelsea beating Newcastle United was never going to be simple; their last Premier League victory at St. James' Park came in December 2011.
Drawing 2-2 with the Magpies, in terrific fashion, the point taken from their away trip might not have been so depressing had 2015/16 started better. Chelsea dropped 11 points from their opening 18 and are now living dangerously. Using all their lifelines in the season's first month, any points lost at this juncture are compounded.
Juggling three competitions, manager Jose Mourinho—through rough patches—must keep his squad rotated and relatively calm.
Players will know they cannot play every match, as the attrition needed for such feats is superhuman. The expectation of being rested is a foreseeable possibility, but the prospect of being dropped is an entirely different proposition.
On merit, there are not too many Blues who warrant their places.
Branislav Ivanovic has been shambolic in defence, yet keeps his place and wears John Terry's captain's armband in the 34-year-old's stead. Cesc Fabregas, though having moments of individual brilliance, has yet to put 90 minutes of world-class football together—something he did with ease in 2014/15. Eden Hazard has yet to score in the Premier League and, for a player with a next-best-thing reputation, his form's disappearance is a mystery on a par with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle imaginings.
These three are not the only cogs from last season underperforming, one could mention several others, but this trio were integral in the Blues' domestic double last season.
Ivanovic was England's best full-back (although Cesar Azpilicueta might argue the claim), Fabregas transformed the side, creating goals for wingers and strikers, while Hazard was an invariable match winner; when the west Londoners needed a player to step up, the Belgian was on hand to make things happen.
Mourinho cannot assert, and worryingly so, that his best players from 2014/15 have returned this season with similar form. Results and expectations should mean Chelsea players are under pressure to perform, lest they be dropped—yet no such pressure seems to exist.
Players have amazingly retained their places after poor showings, and ahead of their Champions League clash with FC Porto, things could be coming to an impasse.
The reasons are simple to address.
Mourinho cannot, reasonably, conclude footballers who won the league last year have rapidly descended this quickly after four months. Furthermore, one must show a certain level of deference and loyalty to players who gave everything to win two trophies last season.
Lastly, having just tinkered in the transfer market, and not bought any true additions (outside of Barcelona's Pedro), the squad does not house enough talent to drop players en masse and consciously expect to win matches.
That said, something must change at Stamford Bridge—whether it be formational and/or inserting footballers with points to prove.
Benched against Newcastle, Willian and Ramires came on when 2-0 down, and helped their side claw back. Their energy, though elements of their game, could be attributed to not starting. In an attempt to impress Mourinho, and fight for the result, the two Brazilians provided Chelsea another dimension—were five minutes left in the match, they might have dragged their club to three points.
Similarly, in cameos this season, Chelsea's young talent (Kenedy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Baba Rahman, Bertrand Traore and Kurt Zouma) have all made impressions. What they lack in experience, they give in spirit, fight and energy. If preferred options are too comfortable in their positions, there might be cause to see what youth can provide.
Everything feels a bit too relaxed. Almost as if there is an assumption the 19 other Premier League clubs will conspire to let Chelsea start winning and find their form. No such deal has been struck, nor has it in the Capital One Cup and Champions League.
After seven league matches, pushing the panic button is too soon, but—while he cannot summarily drop six or seven players—Mourinho does have the ability to apply pressure.
If threatening to drop a player has no effect, then the ultimate decision must be made.
As it stands, the Portuguese coach has been wary of making his players the centre of attention, rather taking most of the pressure and blame upon himself—it is about time he starts sharing the burden.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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