The common belief is that the team that wins the Premier League; taking aside all complications, injuries, if’s and ‘might-have-beens’, the apt cliché is that the table does not lie. Chelsea may not have set the footballing world alight last year, but they were the most consistent. Plundering goals however, particularly in their home games, somewhat disguised the fact they that they are not the same force that won the league back-to-back in ’05 and ’06.
Players no longer carry the aura of invincibility that they carried during that successful period. It is perhaps unfair to judge how Mourinho’s teams defend, compared with anyone else, as that is what he does best. But with the exception of Branislav Ivanovich, Carlo Ancelotti calls upon essentially the same defensive unit that Mourinho did. Unfortunately for Ancetlotti, they are the same names, but not quite the same players.
Ricardo Carvalho has been one of the best defenders in Europe over the last five years, but ill-discipline, a series of injuries and a loss of form have seen his place in the team gradually fall into the arms of the more reliable Alex. A possible move to Real Madrid to reunite his relationship with Mourinho looks increasingly on the cards.
Alex has grown into his role at Chelsea and has become a more important player than many have first anticipated. The problem for Chelsea is that he will miss the start of the season after a thigh injury. When John Terry was the antithesis of dependency, it didn’t matter hugely who played alongside him as he ushered them through each game. While still a good player, there are doubts today over Terry that previously didn’t exist.
What can always help a defensive unit is the assurance of a good goalkeeper behind them. Petr Cech will also miss the start of the season. After three years of being the best keeper on the planet, Cech is another player struggling to live up to the freakishly high standards he set. Mistakes have crept into his game, and for periods last season there seemed to be a distinct lack of both trust and understanding between Cech and his defenders. Regardless of any drop in form, Cech is a far better player than either of his understudies: neither Hilario nor Ross Turnbull have provided the necessary security that a back-up keeper should, and it appears Hilario will begin the season filling in the Czech international.
Didier Drogba, who offers vital defensive duties at set-pieces, as well as his attacking prowess, is another summer casualty who will be absent come mid-August. Considering the dead ball was one of the Blues’ frailties last season, he will certainly be a huge miss at both ends of the pitch.
There are however positives to draw upon: Michael Essien will return – with no World Cup hangover – to aid Mikel in midfield, and the opening fixtures have been relatively generous, with games against West Brom (H), Wigan (A) and Stoke (H) starting the campaign off. That said, it took a last-minute winner from Drogba to see off Hull in the first game of last season.
As with last season, there doesn’t yet seem to be vast improvements made by Chelsea’s rivals. Man City have continued to spend, but their credentials are still relatively unknown. Both Liverpool and Man United have ongoing conflicts between the pitch and the boardroom, Spurs will have to learn to juggle the Champions League with a Premiership campaign and Arsenal have spent the entire summer hoping that Cesc Fabregas will stay put. For Chelsea, it may simply be a matter of ensuring points are secured. If those surrounding them up their game, and Chelsea don’t, there could be a nasty wake-up call for Ancelotti’s men.
