Webber’s World: Chelsea Face Difficult Second Season
However, the last thing that Chelsea can afford to do is rest on their laurels. Mourinho doesn’t appear the sort that would and he must ensure that his players are of the same ilk. For while Chelsea are being hailed as a great success, the measure of a true team is being able to repeat the feat. Ask Arsenal, last year’s greatest side of all time, just how hard it is to win the title in consecutive titles, and they will tell you.
They went into this campaign, unbeatable and invincible, apparently, but it wasn’t long before they found the wheels had come off. Who would have thought that at various times, their deficiencies would be put down to the absences of the once maligned Edu and Gilberto Silva.
So Chelsea now are in a similar position. While they have established a firm grip on the championship this year - with everyone gunning for them next and with perhaps a little less luck with injuries and suspensions, they are going to find things a whole lot tougher. Their squad is wide-ranging, but some of the players are clearly going to leave, and the right replacements need to be acquired.
Over the past two seasons the buying of players has been easy to an extent. Ranieri and Mourinho have used a scatter gun approach, whereby all areas of the squad needed improving and so many players could be brought in, in different positions, and moved in and out until a balance was struck. Now they face a different proposition – fine-tuning.
If Chelsea believe they are good enough and stand still they will stagnate. This is the problem that Wenger in particular has faced at Arsenal. Unable to see the deficiencies in his squad last year Wenger failed to act, and immediately found himself and his team a step off the pace. At Manchester United, Ferguson, once the master of keeping his squad evolving, tried to introduce too many players not of the required standard, and consequently slipped back.
Chelsea need to keep the freshness, and keep the squad changing. It is safe to assume that Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron will make their moves to Italy permanent, and so aren’t really in the picture. The goalkeeping situation is fine, unless Cudicini decides that he must get first team football elsewhere, then an adequate replacement is needed.
In defence everything appears strong in the centre, but Gallas is already voicing concerns about being played out of position, and is encouraging overtures from Barcelona. Carvalho and Terry will remain the central two, and hanging on to Robert Huth will be a bonus. Fullbacks are Mourinho’s problem. He clearly is not keen on Wayne Bridge, or overly enthusiastic about Glen Johnson. Paulo Ferreira is sure to keep his place, and so Chelsea are definitely in the market for a left back, with Ashley Cole likely to make a move.
In midfield, Gerrard was a certainty to join a month ago, but apparently is aggrieved with the way Chelsea have used him in the press, and sources suggest this is by no means a certainty. Liverpool’s victory last night may also put this back at least another season. Lampard and Makelele are an excellent pairing and so there is no great need to disrupt this anyway. Smertin could well leave, and Tiago is a squad player of the like Chelsea will need. Joe Cole’s progression suggests that he will continue to flourish and could become one of Mourinho’s most vital players in the years to come.
Damien Duff’s ability to supplement the attack from wide areas, forced Mourinho into a re-think early in the season, and the Irishman has been a top performer for his side. Arjen Robben’s recent attitude must be a concern for Chelsea fans’ though. Robben has undoubtedly been one of the success stories of the campaign, but his injury proneness and recent revelations about his refusal to start the first leg of the Champions League semi-final are reasons to raise an eyebrow. It appears that he has not ingratiated himself with his Chelsea colleagues over the past few weeks, and his absence from the team in the title deciding match may have been Mourinho’s reaction to this. His poor form and positional indiscipline at Anfield, that led to William Gallas telling him where to play, suggest that all is not happy in the camp. Robben would be a huge loss to the Chelsea side, but don’t be too surprised to see him on the way out this summer.
Up-front is where a real make-over is needed. Kezman has voiced his displeasure at being left out, and wants a move. Hardly a surprise given his record. Didier Drogba is the biggest worry for Chelsea. At £24 million he has fallen way short of the standard required for a centre forward for a team hoping to win trophies. The price tag seemed more than a little high for a player that had only had one decent season previously. His lack of first touch and natural scoring instinct have been exposed in what otherwise is a technically gifted Chelsea team. Other than knocking long balls up to him, the Chelsea side do not play to his strengths. Last night’s match was the perfect example, their inability to put the ball wide and cross, was a major flaw in their approach. Drogba is a decent header of the ball, and the one time they did put a cross in he was almost on the end of it. He has been adequate, and could well be a good second choice, but given the price-tag it is not what he or Chelsea were looking for.
Eidur Gudjohnson continues to prove his worth and will stay in the squad. Mikael Forssell has found his way onto the bench over the last few weeks, and with a full pre-season behind him could find that he is a major player in the squad next year. Carlton Cole on the other hand has again struggled to impress elsewhere. Drogba and Kezman are certainly the most vulnerable here, and it is a striker that Mourinho will most want. He has been linked with defenders and midfielders through illicit meetings etc, but it is certainly the forward area that needs attention.
Chelsea may have won the title this year, but they are certainly in danger of letting it all slip away if they fail to attend to their weaknesses. Mourinho needs to be sure to let some of the players leave if he is to bring others in though. Not to create a financial balance, but to ensure his squad doesn’t become too cumbersome. Team spirit has been a Chelsea hallmark this year, but the cracks have started to show, and too many millionaires sitting on their hands can only spell trouble.
Tim Webber
