Opinion: Can Chelsea Put The Pre-Season Slump Behind?

Chelsea Blog

On the evidence of Saturday’s opener against Swansea, fans of Chelsea Football Club should not get their hopes up too much. The league title holders have been scrutinised all summer; first, for their relative transfer inactivity and then for a dismal pre-season that yielded no victories over five matches.
Jose Mourinho, however, has been insistent that he is satisfied with his squad and with the team’s mediocre pre-season by Chelsea standards.

“You are speaking with the manager of the best team in England – we don’t have frailties,” he said as per The Guardian, before expressing his desire to work with his current squad without further additions.
Came Saturday, and it seemed the Special One had indeed been in the right all along. Oscar, anonymous in pre-season, was a livewire, popping everywhere and creating the chances. Several failed set-pieces later and aided by Gary Cahill’s bamboozling of Lukasz Fabianksi, Oscar gave Chelsea the lead from a set-piece.

Ghana international Andre Ayew announced his arrival to England with a composed finish only for Federico Fernandez to nod Chelsea back in the lead with an unfortunate own goal.
From then on, it all unravelled for Chelsea. Swansea ramped up the pressure immediately second half resumed, and one red card and a Bafetimbi Gomis penalty later, they were level once more. Deservedly too.

Credit to Chelsea who made some several attacking moves despite being a man down – they kept at it till the final whistle. However, the issues raised in pre-season reared up again. Oscar, so instrumental in the first half, was allowed neither time nor space on the ball in the second, and was the fall guy for Thibaut Courtois’ sending off.

Diego Costa amid concerns about his brittle hamstrings spurned his fair share of chances and Cesc Fabregas (replaced by Zouma) looked a tad slower than normal. Even Branislav ‘Dependable’ Ivanovic had a hectic time against Montero. And once down to ten men, Chelsea found it hard to respond.
It may be early days yet, but the Blues lost the chance to begin their title defending campaign with maximum points; they were even fortunate to draw. Had Fernandez not gifted Chelsea the equaliser and Gomis was better positioned in the 68th minute, it is easy to conceive that Mourinho’s men would have lost, especially with ten men.

Willian, cheered off the field, was a bright spot on the night, but even his positioning for Swansea’s second goal was questionable. Only Hazard who wasn’t playing to his usual high standard is not blameable.

One hopes that the malaise that seems to be affecting this Chelsea side is temporary. But then, that’s what Jose said when Fiorentina were outplaying Chelsea last week.