Written by Femi Hilekaan (First appeared on Pulse NG as guest post)
It hasn’t quite been the fairy tale start for Chelsea and manager Jose Mourinho: last season they blew teams away with ease, this term, they are getting blown away easily.
The writings on the wall of a catastrophic season imminent were already in full glare in June ahead of the new season in August.
First, Mourinho, stupendously, sanctioned the sale of top stopper Petr Cech to London rivals Arsenal for £10m. The Czech Republic international is currently having a beasty season with the gunners and it is no surprise his current team are joint leaders on the Premier League table.
Chelsea then reported to Pre-season training on July 16, a week later than their other rivals; played Barcelona four days before a mouth-watering clash with Arsenal in the Community Shield, in which Mourinho was hoping to extend his unbeaten run over Arsenal’s boss Arsene Wenger.
Chelsea were subsequently beaten at Wembley.
Had Mourinho observed his team with more scrutiny, he would have sensed a disjointed side mentally fatigued by his own rigorous training methods.
Former England boss Fabio Capello supported this claim.
“Mourinho is a strategist. Mourinho is a great coach, but after a year-and-half, the players are burned. His mean are mentally no longer able to give what he wants.” He said.
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| Mourinho and Van Gaal |
The new season had come too soon and on opening day fixture on August 8th, Chelsea drew at Stamford Bridge to Gary Monk’s Swansea.
Unfortunately, the game was marred by a redundant incident.
Jose Mourinho was furious with female club doctor Eva Carneiro for her decision to run onto the pitch to treat Eden Hazard.
It was a baseless criticism and a war Mourinho wasn’t going to win considering Hazard was visibly hurt and the referee on the day instructed the medic team onto the pitch.
Carneiro left her post as club doctor after being subsequently demoted, and she is currently entering a legal battle with Mourinho for her dismissal.
Off the pitch Mourinho was under severe criticism from the football community for his handling of Carneior’s case, on the pitch however, it was turning from bad to worse for his team.
The next game saw Chelsea beaten 3-0 by Manchester City much to a visibly stunned Mourinho in the away dugout.
Subsequent run of results has seen Chelsea 3 points closer to relegation spot- this time last season, The Blues were sitting comfortably in first position on the Premier League table and had won 10 and lost none. Amazing.
I saw the last game against Stoke City at the Britannia stadium. The Chelsea players, unguided by their manager who was banned from the stadium for another unnecessary controversy he created, struggle to save an already dreadful season.
Marko Arnautovic goal in the second half was enough as Stoke beat Chelsea 1-0.
Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after the game confidently boasted that the players were behind Mourinho, yet intent isn’t matching results.
The Portuguese though is set to keep his job despite a horrendous season.
Chelsea host Norwich after the international break at Stamford Bridge, then a daunting trip to North London to face Tottenham.
Bournemouth will visit the Bridge after the London derby then Chelsea will travel to Leicester on December 14.
Anything less than 6 points in these four games, surely it is curtains for Mourinho at Chelsea.
Do you agree with the writer? Will Mourinho get sacked if Chelsea win only one of their next four games?
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