Chelsea: Perfectly Placed To Reclaim English Dominance
Ever since Jose Mourinho’s heavenly time at Stamford Bridge came to an end, Chelsea have been living in the shadows of that great period in time for the club.
Avram Grant played using Mourinho’s same system before eventually getting the axe while Luiz Felipe Scolari could not really bring a “Brazilian touch” to Chelsea’s football style. And, although he enjoyed a superb stint, Guus Hiddink was just a temporary solution before Carlo Ancelotti is hired.
Ancelotti brings with him a wealth of experience from Italy; the former Milan, Juventus, Parma and Reggiana manager has two Champions League titles as well as a Serie A title and a Coppa Italia in his trophy cupboard.
You get a feeling that Chelsea are the early favorites, and what gives them the edge over the other teams is more than just the arrival of a world-class manager like Ancelotti.
Chelsea have further strengthened their team, reinforcing their already-powerful squad with Yuri Zhirkov, Ross Turnbull and Daniel Sturridge.
On the other hand, Liverpool and Manchester United were both dealt with great blows as Xabi Alonso and Cristiano Ronaldo departed from their respective clubs for Real Madrid.
Meanwhile Arsenal also had to let Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor head to The City of Manchester.
So Chelsea are, in fact, the only team out of the top four that did not lose any of their top players.
No matter how much the managers try to convince the team’s supporters otherwise, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have been sufficiently weakened this summer.
While Chelsea have had the same powerful and experienced bulk in their team for years now. With some good buys and yet no major changes, the players are bound to gel quickly and start the season well under Ancelotti’s guidance.
Chelsea did play the diamond formation before under Mourinho but it was not successful. But this time around, the team may function in a better way since Deco’s creativity can be employed well behind Anelka and Drogba.
In the first two games of the season, Chelsea have already shown that they are a team that can fight back and claim victory. In the games that Chelsea played against Hull and Sunderland, The Blues came back from behind to claim 2-1 and 3-1 victories at their respective opponents.
What makes Chelsea such a lethal team are the many players they have in their squad who can change the team’s fortunes in the dying moments. Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard can give Chelsea a win even after the side plays a terrible match. That is what makes good teams great.
It is time for Chelsea to leave from under Mourinho’s shadows. Ancelotti can now be the man to finally give Chelsea a new identity and a unique character away from Mourinho’s version of Chelsea.
With Ancelotti at the helm, this season might spark a dose of hope for Chelsea to continue to grow as a club with European glory still on the club’s fan wish-list.
In my mind, Chelsea are ready to win their fourth domestic title in the club’s history courtesty of a consistent and experienced squad, a world-class manager and weakened rivals. It might be the perfect time for Chelsea to reclaim their place as English champions.
Topics: Chelsea, English Premier League
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Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool are the only teams to be made weaker? That’s nonsense! How can you say that Chelsea are not weaker given that all their players are another year older? And please, how is Ross Turnbull really going to improve Chelsea?
Also, Deco was in the same team that played, and failed, the diamond formation last year under Scolari.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Chelsea are still title contenders but it’s not quite as rosy as the picture you paint.
August 19th, 2009 @ 14:07Weakened rivals? Toure leaves and Wenger brings in Thomas Vermaelen who in only his first two games is looking a snip at £10 million. Emmanuel Adebayor is no loss either. With Eduardo fully fit and other good players at the club, Adebayor leaving hasn’t weakened Arsenal at all. A lot of fans would say that selling a player for £25 million who has only really had one good season is great business. Although Chelsea will undoubtedly be challenging for The Premier league title this season, to say they will reclaim their dominance is unrealistic. They have played Hull and Sunderland so far and with respect to those two clubs, they are hardly heavyweights. I think it’s time to take your Chelsea specs off mate and think again about what you said!
August 19th, 2009 @ 14:18havent we all heard this before?a decent start results wise,even though both wins have hardly been convincing,and already chelsea are favourites?no way
August 19th, 2009 @ 14:35duffman90: did you watch the match last night ?
if that wasn´t convincing enough for you, i hardly know what could be convincing.
chelsea are favourites, every year for now 5-6 years.
August 19th, 2009 @ 15:54Calling Man city the city of Manchester? a low blow towards the domestic champions which just goes to show your inherent bias. Useless article.
August 19th, 2009 @ 17:11Nice on Zahi – beautiful discription!
August 19th, 2009 @ 17:48I think that having to come back from behind against two bottom half teams to win isn’t that impressive… They aren’t in danger of losing a Champions League place, but I don’t think they are on the cusp of dominance as you said they are.
August 19th, 2009 @ 18:18@cfc
August 19th, 2009 @ 20:35how can you say chelsea will be favorites for the next 5-6 years when most of their starting squad will be in retirement homes in five years. They are old and this is probably their last chance (maybe next year too) to win the league with the side they have. They are losing a step so they need ancelotti to really step up and perfect this team.
They are looking strong so far, but coming back from 1 nil down isn’t ideal and the won’t be able to get away with that forever.
August 19th, 2009 @ 22:20I’m a Chelsea fan, but it isn’t that rosy. Remember Chelsea scraped a win against Hull, who were blown away by Spurs. Maybe its just sorting out some technicalities but nobody can tell for certain. Last season they started out better than this, but we all know how that turned out. Don’t count your chickens….just hope and support
August 20th, 2009 @ 03:15Wow!! They’ve beaten Hull, and only in the dying minutes, and then Sunderland…once again, not convincingly. Yeah, definately out and out favourites. Bloody dangerous, legendary team. Best in the world? Apparently. What. a. load. of. shite.
August 20th, 2009 @ 05:10i dont think theyve been playing well except maybe against sunderland. that diamond formation still needs polishing.
August 20th, 2009 @ 05:58Don’t know what all the fuss is about. Chelsea were tipped by more pundits than any other team and are favourites with 90% of the bookies.
As a Utd fan I tipped them also for the obvious reasons that the writer states. Utd and Liverpool have clearly weakened and Arsenal haven’t addressed their weaknesses.
Nothing to do with early season form, I just think over the course of the season they’ll have too much for the rest.
August 20th, 2009 @ 06:07the scoreline doesnt always reflect the dominance.
against hull 60% possession and 12 shots on goal, missing around 3 1 on 1s with the keeper.
against sunderland 75% possesion 60% of the game being played in sunderlands half and the goal coming from bent in an offside position.
Basically chelsea have been dominating the games but failing to score early on. Just like against manU in the Comm SHield and everton in the FA cup.
The other teams have been weakened, how suffeciently who knows. 1 year old doenst mean squat. Drogba is playing better then ever, anelka is still stupidly quick, lampard had the best season ever last year and many of the regular players are in their prime. Its not like when you turn 30 you suddenly lose all your abilities. Certain players, ones that dont rely on speed, agility and quickness but instead rely on strength, technique and intelligence can last till their mid 30′s easily. Look at maldini, giggs, scholes, beckham, cannavaro, raul, totti, del piero. List goes on.
Also manU isnt technically inside of manchester which is why they get given shit by city.
In 5-6 years chelsea will have a completely different team, only perhaps sturridge, di santo, terry, cech, mikel, bosingwa, alex, zhirkov, mancienne, matic, essien and stoch will be playing. People seem to forget that many of chelsea’s players are still quite young, sure drogba, lampard, anelka, malouda, a.cole, ballack and deco will retire but it will be staggered, many of them will still be good for 2-3 years before going on, a couple might even reach 3-4 and by then either chelsea have bought replacements or actually had some decent youth come through the ranks.
August 20th, 2009 @ 06:18Chelsea fc is a good starter but as the time goes on they cant be as consistent as they were in the start. there side is not so strong but the other sides are weaken. whenever saf will came into form united gonna rule again.
August 20th, 2009 @ 06:30Well I hate to say, currently the scenario looks exactly as it is been painted in the article.
But too early to start celebrating, Season has a long way to go, and it will be more exciting then previous two years’.
p.s. Arsenal have made a bursting start, but were not convincing against Celtic.
August 20th, 2009 @ 07:20I agree that Chelsea are probably the strongest team in the Premier League after the summer deals. Certainly Man Utd look a little less of a force and Liverpool look about the same. I think Arsenal are stronger too though. Man Utd losing to Burnley will raise a few eyebrows but they started badly last season and went on to win the league.
August 20th, 2009 @ 08:16It looks good now.
However Chelsea new system put specific strain on the full backs to provide width.
How long can Cole and Boswinga gallop up and down the pitch.
If they suffer from fatigue then the play for Chelsea will become narrow and predictable.
Also Carlo made a good decision to play Deco behind the front two rather than Lampard.
August 20th, 2009 @ 10:164 4 2 Diamond Formation Analysis
Chelsea are a team of fossils & crocks – when the season gets going they will suffer injuries like the rest of us. They cant keep conceeding 1st to come back either – they will drop points. I think the title race is going to be wide open this year as many of the smaller teams have closed the gap with some big spending.
August 20th, 2009 @ 13:25Liverpool have got a better right back, a fantastic central midfielder, replaced their centre back with quality and have some fine young players coming through. some important players Lucas, Insua, Babel, Ngog have got an additional year’s experience in the league.
how exactly have Liverpool been significantly weakened then? Liverpool in my opinion are actually better than last season. and the transfer window isnt even shut yet. YNWA.
August 21st, 2009 @ 19:12