6 Things Jose Mourinho Has Done Right or Wrong at Chelsea This Season
For fans of domestic football, the international break can be a tedious time, waiting around for players to return and join up with their clubs for the league to get back underway.
It's a time that allows for managers to take stock, though.
Training grounds may be empty with players jetting all over the world to represent their countries, but it gives an opportunity to address some of the issues inside the camp.
The likes of Jose Mourinho and his rival Premier League managers will be trawling through their team's performances this season, looking for the positives and also for solutions on how they can stop a leaking defence or get the best out of a misfiring striker.
With that in mind, Bleacher Report is also taking stock.
Here's what we think Mourinho has done well at Chelsea this season, and also where the Blues boss can improve.
Has Made Chelsea Clinical Again...
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Everything about Chelsea's position in the Premier League table looks impressive right now.
The Blues are top, five points clear of Manchester City, and have outscored their opponents—they're the only team to have scored more than 20 times this season.
After seven league matches, Chelsea are averaging three goals a game, compared to just 1.42 at the same stage last term.
Diego Costa's nine goals have been a major reason for that sharp increase, but so has the form of Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas—the latter has eight assists to his name.
Chelsea are proving a far more fluid attacking unit in 2014/15, playing to their strengths.
And when they get an opportunity in front of goal, they aren't as wasteful as before.
Jose Mourinho has worked hard to rectify that weakness from last season, and thus far, it's paying off.
...but at the Expense of Defensive Solidity
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For all the positives we've seen going forward, Jose Mourinho will be less than satisfied with some of the defensive errors that have plagued Chelsea at various stages this season.
From being so reliable last term, it seems Chelsea's new sense of adventure going forward has been detrimental to their normally solid backline.
The Blues have conceded seven goals this season, and had it not been for some poor finishing from Leicester City forward David Nugent, it could have been more.
Chelsea defeated the Foxes 2-0 in late August, but Nugent missed two one-on-one opportunities in that game.
That said, Chelsea have kept clean sheets in their last three matches since Matt Mills' header for Bolton Wanderers in the Capital One Cup.
Mourinho hasn't seen his team concede in the league since Frank Lampard's goal for Manchester City on Sept. 21, so the signs are there that things are improving.
Has Eased the Pressure on Eden Hazard
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Eden Hazard has said it himself this season—the arrival of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas has eased the pressure on him to perform every week for Chelsea.
Last year, the Blues were running the risk of becoming a one-man team, with Hazard the main source of goals and creativity.
Now Costa and Fabregas are on the scene—coupled with better form from Oscar and Andre Schurrle—Chelsea have much more creativity and the burden is being spread across the team.
It was once a case of stop Hazard and teams could stop Chelsea. Not anymore.
Chelsea are a frightening proposition for any team they face right now.
Not Utilised Chelsea's Youngsters
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Chelsea's youngsters are hopefully going to have plenty of opportunities to feature this season after a summer that saw them impress.
The likes of Lewis Baker, Izzy Brown, Nathan Ake and Dominic Solanke caught the eye when filling in for the senior players who were still on international duty when pre-season started.
Against Bolton Wanderers in the Capital One Cup, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to give some of them their chance in a competitive fixture, although it was only Ake who played.
That was disappointing, especially considering Baker was on the bench and could have benefited from the first-team action.
Chelsea play Shrewsbury Town in the next round after they defeated Bolton 2-1, so hopefully Mourinho will put more faith in his youngsters against lower league opposition.
Managed Diego Costa's Fitness Expertly
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It says a lot about Chelsea's management of Diego Costa that, even when not fully fit, he has been in good enough condition to score nine goals already this season.
Jose Mourinho has rotated the Spanish international expertly, using him effectively but withdrawing him when the time is right.
When a player is in the scoring form Costa is right now, the temptation for any manager is to play them regardless.
Mourinho's been a bit wiser than that, easing his star striker into the campaign in the hope he can gradually reach peak condition and overcome his troublesome hamstring without missing too much game time.
So far, it's paid off and Chelsea are all the more stronger for it.
The only concern is the condition in which Costa returns from international duty. Will the Spanish medical team have been as effective?
Buying a Left-Back He Doesn't Use
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When Filipe Luis joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid this summer, the impression was that he would become an automatic first choice, replacing the departing Ashley Cole.
Not so.
Cesar Azpilicueta, a right-back by trade, has remained Jose Mourinho's preferred left-back.
It begs the question of, why sign Luis in the first place?
The Brazilian has remained positive, but how long will it go on for? Surely he didn't leave the La Liga champions to sit on the bench at Stamford Bridge.
And if Luis is only a back-up for Azpilicueta, paying £16 million for him does appear rather steep. Especially when Nathan Ake has impressed at left-back at times and Chelsea have other options at the club.
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Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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