It would of course seem churlish or just plain daft to dream of criticising Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team right now.
They are top of the EPL and looking good to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, and are unbeaten in all competitions.
Having watched much of their progress this season, it is safe to say they look an infinitely better team than last year with the additions of Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtious and Cesc Fabregas as well as last January’s introduction of the formidable Nemanja Matic.
They have added huge quality to an already talented squad and Chelsea look the best they have since Mourinho’s first tenure at the club.
Last season’s team were pilloried in the second half of the season in particular for being overly negative. This season has seen a far more balanced approach, but there is definitely a case to say that an unnecessarily cautious approach could ultimately cost them again this season.
Unlike last season’s classic smash and grab at the Emirates and Mourinho entirely outsmarting Brendan Rodgers (in a game that the home manager didn’t need to chase and win), Chelsea’s play away from home has given them far more control of games, yet potentially crucial points have been lost this time around.
I suspect that far fewer away teams will win at Old Trafford this season and a point at the Etihad is a fine one for any team, but in both matches Chelsea let winning positions slip and in both cases much by their own doing.
Against City, Chelsea had scored a wonderful goal on the break and seen Pablo Zabaleta sent off for the home side. Yes, Costa subsequently hit the post but Chelsea began to needlessly cede territory to the team with 10 men.
Frank Lampard’s entrance and equaliser was of course perfectly scripted, but had Chelsea kept their intensity and attacking intent they would have had a far better chance of maintaining or adding to their lead.
Against Louis van Gaal’s wide open United side at the weekend, Chelsea again let a lead slip with Robin van Persie equalising with almost the final kick of the match.
Leicester put five past United this season and while the Red Devils have improved and Chelsea were without Diego Costa, the Mancs were there for the taking. But again Chelsea played into United’s hands by dropping back and not pressuring the Reds’ Achilles heel, their defence.
Conceding these late goals means that Chelsea have missed the chance to increase the gap on both these teams by five points. They are sitting pretty at the top but these are precious points to lose, and Chelsea could have already been disappearing over the hill and out of sight.
People may not consider the gap to United as important but consider this. Liverpool last season had a dodgy defence, a fairly ordinary midfield and a great attack. They coupled with this no European football, fresh legs and launched a genuine title charge after Christmas.
One could argue that United’s squad is superior to Liverpool’s last season and they have a far better keeper. They are not out of things yet, although one could argue they could finish anywhere in the top six or seven.
In both these matches and also against Crystal Palace, Chelsea tended to cede possession and territory later in the match, costing them points against the Manchester teams and causing undue tension against Palace.
In both the Manchester games the introduction of Jon Obi Mikel has heralded a change in the tempo and shape of the game and the territory it is played in.
Mikel is often a ponderous player and tends to lack the positional sense to play the holding role effectively. His presence often invites the opposing team to gather impetus as Chelsea have seen to their cost both times after he was brought on.
As mentioned, while Mourinho is open to criticism in terms of the style of his teams, tactically he is generally not open to question. However, these lapses in key games are down to the same mistake being made twice, regardless of what anyone says about refereeing decisions.
Chelsea look the team to beat this season but should they continue to lose the impetus later in games then at the sharp end of the season they may find it to their cost, especially in the latter stages of the Champions League where the margins are so fine.
Chelsea are a wonderfully physically imposing team who generally win their battles all over the pitch. What Mourinho must remember however, is that a team containing the likes of Fabregas and Eden Hazard is set up to play attacking football.
Just a fraction more positivity in winning positions Jose, just a tweak is needed.
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