Little Horse Chelsea Are Not Too Good to Go Down

The ghost of Jose Mourinho still haunts Chelsea.

Not because his departure from Stamford Bridge is still a raw issue; more because his assessment of this current crop of Chelsea players continues to ring true.

We saw it again at Old Trafford on Monday evening, as Manchester United and Chelsea laboured to a goalless draw.

The thickness of the goal posts saved Chelsea from a 10th league defeat of the season after Thibaut Courtois was beaten twice—by Juan Mata and Anthony Martial, with their efforts smashing against the woodwork.

At the other end, David De Gea was called into action to prevent John Terry, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta. Nemanja Matic wasted the best chance of the game when he fired over the bar when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

This game was a reminder of all that Mourinho lamented about his second spell in charge at Chelsea. A lack of character, application and simple effort brought back the notion of Chelsea being an undeveloped Premier League thoroughbred—a little horse.

It was in the title race two years ago that he raised the point, and not much has changed, as we've seen over Christmas.

This is what he meant.

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In the biggest moments when Chelsea have had the opportunity to turn their campaign around, they have lacked the edge to do it.

Against Watford on Boxing Day, it was Oscar's penalty miss late on that would have won the game; at Old Trafford, Matic's horrendous blaze over the bar that would have proved the difference.

Six points have become two, and the Premier League champions remain just three points above the relegation zone heading into the new year.

Now we're left talking about what ifs. What if Oscar had scored? What if Matic had shown more composure? What if these players applied themselves like champions should?

What if Chelsea won all three of their games over Christmas, including this weekend's upcoming visit to Selhurst Park to face fifth-placed Crystal Palace?

That would leave them just four points behind the Eagles, and the entire campaign would have developed a whole new complexion.

Here we are, though, Chelsea struggling and continuing to fool us with the names on the teamsheet. There are no what ifs about it; this team is not too good to go down.

Everything we've seen up to this point in 2015/16 tells us that much. Just look at the form guide since August: Chelsea have failed to win back-to-back league games all season. Coupled with their nine defeats, that's relegation fodder right there.

With each victory, the impression's been that they've finally turned the corner only for the same problems to rear their head.

And judging by this draw with United, those problems aren't disappearing any time soon.

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United's league position tells us otherwise, but in the present, Louis van Gaal's side are arguably worse off than Chelsea. They haven't won a game all December and were dumped out of the Champions League in the group stages.

Confidence at Old Trafford is at an all-time low, brought on by a lack of flair and goals that's seen them score just five times in that eight-match winless streak.

You wouldn't have known it against Chelsea. Van Gaal's men appeared world-beaters; it was they who looked like the reigning Premier League champions.

Chelsea have forgotten the fundamentals, notably what it means to apply pressure, and United flourished because of it. Across the entire pitch, Chelsea players were chasing shadows, unable to cope with United's movement off the ball and between the lines.

This wasn't in isolation, though. Watford did it 48 hours earlier, and so too has every other team that Chelsea have faced this season, save for Sunderland and Aston Villa.

From the little horse in a title race, Chelsea are equally lacking in a relegation scrap. Premier League champions they may be, relegation candidates they certainly are.

In his last press conference as Chelsea manager, Mourinho explained that his players needed to be more humble in their time of need.

He spoke about the players accepting the risk of the situation they're in, hinting at them taking more responsibility to get the club moving up the table and away from the bottom three.

"This season we started individually and collectively so bad in the Premier League that it brought the players to a position in the table where they are not scared of relegation, where they feel they don't belong, but where they don't have the motivation of the team that is fighting to be champion.

"[...] I don't think in this moment the players they can feel they are top players or they can feel they are superstars. In this moment they have to be humble [...] They have to look to Sunderland and say: 'Hey, we're in the same level as you are.'

"The players have to put their feet on the ground and be humble."

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

We haven't seen that in the three games since Mourinho was sacked. Being humble means facing reality, and Chelsea aren't doing that.

They're not working as a team, and the lack of application in the final third against United on Monday smacked of players who aren't accepting the hand they've been dealt.

The bottom line is there doesn't appear to be any stomach for the fight. That motivation to be league champions last season isn't quite the same as having to scrap for points at the bottom of the table.

That's what it comes down to. It's not always the best teams that stay up; more those sides who roll up their sleeves and dig in in the way Chelsea must do right now.

Chelsea seem to lack that ability, with their laborious efforts when United had possession and their poor decision-making in the key moments showing a team that is lacking.

The circumstances have changed. We shouldn't be talking about Chelsea and their chances of making the top four, it's the bottom three that must be the focus.

The might have the players, but Chelsea are yet to show they have the moral fibre for a relegation scrap, and it could well prove their downfall.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes