Pedro's Chelsea Debut Excites but Can't Cover Up Problems for Jose Mourinho
THE HAWTHORNS, BIRMINGHAM — More than Pedro's debut goal, what impressed most about Chelsea's attacking threat against West Bromwich Albion in their 3-2 win on Sunday was the manner with which they doubled their lead on the half-hour mark.
Jose Mourinho has built this Chelsea team to play quick counter-attacking football, but with a lack of personnel to execute his plan to perfection, it hasn't always worked out as the manager would have hoped.
Indeed, there are only a few occasions in 2015 when Chelsea have looked so free-flowing, for which Pedro takes all the plaudits for at the Hawthorns.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
His first appearance in Chelsea colours has been exactly what we should expect from a multiple La Liga champion, a multiple Champions League winner, a European champion and a world champion.
It's no coincidence that Chelsea finally have a win to their name this season now that the Spaniard is among their number.
Pedro gave Chelsea's right what Eden Hazard does on the left—a genuine threat. He penetrated the Baggies' defence, floated between the lines and made it difficult for Chris Brunt to contain him.
It's been a while since we've seen a player on the right do any of that for Chelsea. Juan Cuadrado has been a disaster, while Willian's talents do not lend themselves to that sort of wing play.
The result of Pedro's endeavours was some of the best counterpunches Chelsea have thrown in a long while—a factor summed up with Diego Costa's goal that made it 2-0 as Chelsea turned defence into attack at a frightening pace, finding the back of the opposition net within seconds of defending their own goal for a corner.
It was a moment of beauty that even Chelsea's biggest detractors couldn't ignore. Now the demand is to see much more of it, which the addition of Pedro suggests we just might.
After the horror showing against Manchester City a week before, facing Tony Pulis' Albion outfit was going to be a tough challenge for Chelsea.
They came through it, but let's not fool ourselves, though. It was what Chelsea did in the opposition half that won them this game, with their defence seemingly open for all and sundry to have a pop at.
Had it not been for the front three looking so revitalised, we may well be talking about a Chelsea defeat here.
Pedro's signing has been a major positive as Chelsea attempt to avoid a repeat of their opening two games this season. He's exactly what they needed, but at the other end, things need a similar change.
Nemanja Matic and Branislav Ivanovic were the biggest culprits for Chelsea's defensive frailties on Sunday.
Both were at fault for the two goals West Brom scored, while Thibaut Courtois saved Matic's blushes further with his first-half penalty save.
Twice the usually assured Serbian was caught out. Firstly he brought down Callum McManaman with a lazy challenge to concede that penalty before he was beaten in the air by James Morrison for West Brom's second.
That goal made for an unnecessarily uncomfortable last 30 minutes as Chelsea, down to 10 men by this stage following John Terry's sending-off, had to defend desperately at times to prevent the home side drawing level.
The problem isn't Matic, however. It's Chelsea's defensive set-up, where a crisis of confidence seems to have swept through the ranks.
It's hit the manager, too, with his chopping and changing in the last two matches. It started with Terry's half-time substitution against City, followed this time with Gary Cahill dropped in favour of Kurt Zouma.
It seems Chelsea aren't sure what the answer is to their problems that have seen them concede seven goals already this term. After three games last season, it was four.
Sensing the unease with which those behind him feel with every opposition attack, Matic has become erratic. He's making challenges that he shouldn't be and is finding himself out of position much too often.
We've seen it said before about goalkeepers when defenders make the same mistakes or errors in judgement that Matic is now.
He has the look of a man who no longer trusts his defence.
There seems to be a belief that signing John Stones is going to change all that, that like a magic wand the Everton defender is going to miraculously bring everything together for the champions.
He'll certainly add some strength, but unless Mourinho makes the tough calls, this will continue.
Chelsea can't go on with the fragile state we've seen at the back, and its root cause is Ivanovic. That's three games in succession now that he has been teased and tortured by his opposite number, the latest being West Brom's McManaman on Sunday.
Ivanovic's Chelsea career is far from over, but what we've seen thus far in 2015/16 must be addressed. He's isolating the central defender alongside him—normally Cahill, but Zouma on Sunday—and from there, all hell breaks loose.
The panic spreads like an uncontrollable plague.
It happened against Tottenham Hotspur on New Year's Day when Harry Kane tormented Ivanovic and Cahill. That seemed a game in isolation, but now it's happening all too frequently.
The sight of Pedro doing something similar to the West Brom defence has meant the focus has shifted for now at Chelsea. On the back of a 3-2 victory and a fine debut showing, we're busy putting Pedro's name in bright lights and salivating over what a bargain he may well prove to be.
It's changed Mourinho's mood, also. The Chelsea boss was clearly happy with his team's efforts, seeming more jovial in his post-match press conference than he has been of late.
He even afforded himself a joke when discussing Terry's dismissal.
"We have loud music in the dressing room, so he's dancing," Mourinho quipped when quizzed on his captain's mood.
Mourinho doesn't need to study the tape from this one to know Chelsea still have problems. Pedro has addressed part of the issue, but if they fail to focus elsewhere, Chelsea's mixed fortunes in August are going to be repeated for a long time yet.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
