Sitting just four points above the relegation zone, winning just two games out of eight this season and conceding 17 goals, the start of the season hasn’t been the best for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. The Premier League champions faced humiliation once again as they were outplayed by Southampton and more than blame the players for another dire performance, the manager decided to go berserk and throw a tirade against almost everyone except himself and the team.
To be honest, Jose is a master at diverting attention from his team, especially when his team are not doing well but that would only happen a couple of times a season. Normally Jose’s team gets back to business the next week but poor performances have been a regular feature for this season’s Chelsea.
Mourinho received the backing of the board but he does need to change things around since he guaranteed a top four finish for the Blues and we look at the major changes he needs to bring about in the playing XI if he is to salvage this season.
Time to drop a few big names
The most startling decision of Mourinho so far is the insistence to play Branislav Ivanovic, the Serbian might have been one of the best defenders last season but he has been torn to shreds time and time against this season. Keeping him in the team is a liability and Chelsea need to drop him; they have the big money signing of Baba Rahman but just won’t play him for some reason.
The central defensive partnership isn’t working either and John Terry has to be brought back into the team or they should give a chance to their new signing Papy Djilobodji. Their defence can’t really get any worse than what they have right now.
Their attack isn’t doing all that great either; Eden Hazard has been extremely poor this season and needs to be dropped. He just can’t seem to cut it and Mourinho should give a chance to the sprightly Kenedy up front, probably as a winger to help Chelsea beat the issue of not scoring enough goals as well. The Blues have only scored 12 goals in these eight games.
Loic Remy should also be given a chance to prove himself in the absence of Diego Costa. We saw how Falcao struggled in the game against Southampton and the French striker provides a lot more to Chelsea than Falcao does.
The midfield pairing of Fabregas and Matic, which was incredible last season also seems to have gone into semi-retirement and maybe giving a chance to Loftus-Cheek and Traore a chance to show just what they are capable off.
There is no doubt that Chelsea can get back to winning ways but retaining their title might a distance too far. Mourinho has 30 games left to salvage Chelsea’s Premier League season and possibly keep himself at London as well.