Chelsea’s defensive football has certainly not enthralled many people, with criticism being layered at Chelsea from all angles. Jose Mourinho’s insistence on caution is questionable, and his tactics have not brought any success to the Blues this season.
When commenting about Chelsea’s style of play a week ago, Mourinho said, “If we hadn’t gone for a bit more stability and development of a certain philosophy, it was a big risk. So from that point the team became more strategical and less intuitive, because we went for results.”
This comment may have an element of truth in it, but claiming it was a big risk to play differently is debatable to say the least.
Chelsea’s brand is beginning to become a little tarnished. The very thought of Chelsea conjures up ideas of boredom and defence to many, which is not exactly surprising. Even Mourinho himself admitted that Chelsea have been boring to watch this season.
With Mourinho at the helm, it seems unlikely that Chelsea will transform into a team brimming with attacking intent next season. Yet, if Jose continues with this style of football, he will not be utilising all of Chelsea’s resources.
Chelsea’s squad is filled with young attacking talent and potential. Andre Schurrle; Oscar; Eden Hazard; Mohamed Salah and Romelu Lukaku are all gifted footballers.
Willian, too, is only 25 years of age. Granted, Chelsea’s lack of a proven, top drawer centre forward is something which concerns Chelsea fans and needs to be addressed, but Mourinho will almost certainly sign a striker or two in the summer.
Mourinho ought to put more faith in the attacking players at his disposal. A Chelsea side playing with attacking flair and freedom next season would be feared. We have seen glimpses of Chelsea’s attacking quality this season, but they have been too few. He needs to relinquish his desire for caution and discipline and allow his players to truly express themselves.
Roman Abramovich was a guest at the Champions League quarter-final second-leg encounter between Manchester United and Real Madrid in 2003 at Old Trafford. Enthused and inspired by the thrilling 4-3 encounter, it is said this is what prompted Abramovich to buy a football club.
Abramovich has certainly not been treated to football of that type this season. He is unlikely to be too impressed by what he has seen. He craves a Chelsea side full of goals, panache and attacking intentions. A mentality of “we don’t care if you score, because we will score more”.
Nevertheless, Abramovich realises that this is a results business. If Chelsea are successful next season with a similar style of football, there are unlikely to be too many complaints from both him, and the Chelsea faithful. Surely, though, the way for Chelsea to be successful is to be braver and bolder. Jose’s tactics this season have not brought any trophies. Something needs to change.
Mourinho is no fool he played that way to ensure qualification to CL, around Christmas time we had leaked alot of goals and he changed style. He knew the threat of the teams around him, and didn’t want to take any chances. I agree id like to see us go for it a little more next year, especially against the lesser teams, but we need the strikers that can score goals. We didn’t have that this season only Eto is capable of that, and he took time to bed in. I think the criticism Mourinho is taking from all quarters is unfair, his record against the top teams was fantastic. As you say we didn’t win a trophy but its impossible to win one every year………………..the important thing is we progressed as a team, if you can’t see that then your broad and extensive knowledge of football, is not as good as your thought it was.
Hello Kamachi. Thanks for your reply.
If you look at the two related articles above, about Jose Mourinho and Chelsea’s youthful team, you will see that I said Chelsea have progressed this season with their youthful side, and that Jose is a winner.
It is always best to read further before coming to quick conclusions.
There is no point in this report, Abramovish was able to be among owners that has won Major trophy kick started by Mourinho’s Reign. The Fact still remains that Roman needs to be fully patient and inculcate developmental Management idea like how Athletico,Real and Bayern of recent years did. And not a must win Idea that mount pressure on Coaches. I want to believe that Scolari,Ancelloti,Di Matteo,AVB and Benitez all play an attacking football during their time but Roman is no lover of having that Patient towards building a team. Maybe nobody has told him that if he wants his team to be playing like Barca and the other attacking football team it has to take some time to build such team. Afterall Barca didn’t come to limelight in just 1 or 2 season,unlike the Bayern and Real Madrid. So I expect by now Roman should be thinking of how Jose will Stabilize a winning team with all attacking style of play in that will reign for the next 3,4 and 5 seasons to come. And not the mentality to sack Jose. Pls let’s enjoy Jose this time for years to come.Chelsea till I die.
We do not have to critisize morinho for now because a season to me isn’t enough for one to prove himself when we have the likes of Man City , Liverpool,(Both team are with talented attackers ) in the Epl. Rogers has been arranging the liverpool team for years and so to Man city still Chelsea had fantastic result against them. Go and Check it , we only played this boring style against big teams this year and all because there was no striker that got it right for us. We didn’t park the bus against smaller clubs. But there were no strikers to convert goals . And I think Mourihno too made a mistake benching Demba Ba because he would have made differences (no playing time for him to show) and I don’t see Oscar as chelsea’s playmaker but Willian check out what Willian played against Man city at Ethihad stadium . So Mourihno needs time to decided his play maker for next season and strikers Eto’o and torres should go let him reserve Ba.
True , Jose was let down buy an astonishing childish Chelsea mentality of buying 11 midfield players , with virtually no useful striker. But Jose did not want Lukaku to help a bad situation get better. And Jose NEVER EVER SAYS HE MADE A MISTAKE. Instead he wants us to say winning Europa was worse than winning nothing. Jose is still the best coach in the world , especially if he can sever is ” darling , darling ” relationship with the old guard at Chelsea
If Chelsea has to change their style of play,we also need a good finisher to help make the opposing side weak. When a striker causes havoc to a defence,the defenders tend to foul him. It could be near the 18 yard box or even inside. We have good attacking mieldfielders like Oscar,Mohamed Salah,Eden Hazard,Willian etc they should try as much as possible to create the chances so the goals could come in.
Mourinho made a big mistake by selling Juan Mata, and that is compounded by the way Oscar has played. Sure, he’s had to play a lot of games but Oscar isn’t someone you ‘build you team around’ If he needed money he could have sold Oscar indeed. He still might, mind you, but who knows? Had Juan stayed, he could have scored 14 goals too…
Actually I feel bad for Mata. He lost his place in the Spain squad because of one man’s stubbornness. I know the fans seem to think that Mata was rightly sold but, look at his performance at United. He is one of the most beautiful players to watch, when at his best.
On an ending note, I hope Chelsea do manage to sign Costa and Mandzukic. If they manage the slip-ups against bottom-half teams next season, they could score 90+ points.
Agree with much of what you have said there Somsubhro!