English Champions or Kings of Europe - That is the question!
Chelsea have had a staggering start to the season so far, but their display against Bremen on Tuesday night made one thing clear – Chelsea is not targeting the league in 2006/2007.
As much as I dislike Jose Mourhino, I cannot help but say he is a very good manager. A manager who could have motivated a FC Porto team that included just a couple of good players to win the Champions League, running over opponents like United and (at the time a very strong)Deportivo La Coruna, deserves to be held in the highest regard.
Jose is the kind of guy, that if you throw a stone at him, he will throw a rock back at you. Something he didn’t quite get his squad to do against a Boro side (that was beaten senseless by Portsmouth) this year. Chelsea crumbled to a 3-1 defeat at Riverside last season and were victim to a late Mark Viduka strike that handed them an unlikely 1-0 defeat in their second match of the season.
Today Chelsea plays Liverpool – a team that hasn’t been able to defeat the Londoners in the League since Mourhino took charge at Stamford Bridge. But, in their last meeting the Merseyside giant saw off their counterparts to win the Community Shield.
The way the Special One inspires his team to play against Pool will determine what Chelsea’s goals are this season -
- Revenge time in London, and another 4-1 destruction of the scousers, which would give a message out loud and clear – Mourhino wants to make it 3 in a row.
OR
- A lackluster performance by the champions, which would mean Champions League glory is all that the London outfit is ‘bovvered’ about, and will be content with a top two finish in the League.
If Chelsea opts for option b, it means only good news for other teams in the Premiership who can go all out and try and exploit that gaping hole in the centre of Chelsea’s defense created by the absence of one Mr. Gallas and grab some points off the champions.
Scenario 3 is Chelsea going all out for both titles, which is something they haven’t shown remote inclination toward. They must shape up their act in the League otherwise teams like Pool, United and Arsenal (who am I kidding…. not Arsenal) will walk over Roman’s Army.
Also Chelsea (don’t laugh) lack depth to put in a serious challenge for both titles. Their squad has weakened in numbers over the summer and they will miss some key figures from their defensive department, the effects of which we can only wait to see.
Until then, bring in the beers.
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Discussion - 4 Responses
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“crumbled to a 3-1 defeat at Riverside last season”
3-0
“and were victim to a late Mark Viduka strike that handed them an unlikely 1-0 defeat in their second match of the season”
2-1
“Revenge time in London, and another 4-1 destruction of the scousers”
At Anfield, not in London
poor poor chelsea… lacking the strength in depth to challenge for both titles… who areyou trying to kid? chelsea have the best squad in world football, and rightly so considering the way they have bulldozed the transfer market overthe last few years.
“A lackluster performance by the champions, which would mean Champions League glory is all that the London outfit is ‘bovvered’ about, and will be content with a top two finish in the League.”
Chelsea want to beat Liverpool more than any other team they play, (perhaps barcelona), so they will give it everything they’ve got to win today. Are you seriously trying to tell me that if they dont perform well it will only be because they ‘couldnt be bovvered’ They are professionals. Trust me, they WILL be ‘bovvered’. but this is just preparing weak excuses in case of the unlikely event that Liverpool manage to beat them again.
Yes, it has been well documented that chelsea covet the champions league trophy, but dont think for a minute that means they will put any less effort into winning the premiership this season. Oh no, they would love to lord it over the rest of the prem about winning it 3 times in a row. Every time they lose a premiership game it will be because they dont really care about it as much as the champions league. absolute nonsense.
Sorry about those mistakes. Wrote the article late last night and didn’t bother to check my facts. Highly unprofessional of me.
@ footballfan
I agree Chelsea are thorough professionals. I agree they want to beat Liverpool more than any other team in the world.
My point was that Chelsea will be gutted if they lose the Champions League, but not so much the Premiership. I got to see only the first half of Chelsea’s game today, so I don’t want to venture into who the better team was. But going by the result, it was Chelsea.
I still stand by my statement though. Chelsea will accept second best in the league, but will accept nothing less than winning in the CL in Athens on May 23rd.
Yes, 3 League titles in 3 years and all the bragging rigts it brings with it, is something Chelsea or any team in the league will love. They are bothered about winning the League. But that is not their goal this season.
I have only one word to say to you:
“Drogbaaaaaah!!!”