IT CAME DOWN to one minute, according to Jose Mourinho. At one end of the pitch, there was Thibaut Courtois’ excellent save from John Terry’s header. Moments later, Diego Costa was taken down in the area by Samuel Eto’o and the striker took the resultant penalty himself to put his side in front.
It’s ironic to think that the two players who essentially prevented Chelsea from reaching last year’s Champions League final are now at Stamford Bridge and critical to the club’s hopes of reaching another European decider.
Diego Costa had a crucial role to play in Chelsea's Champions League exit last season. Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP/Press Association Images
Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Mourinho has been rightly lauded for bringing in Costa and Cesc Fabregas in the summer but he’s strengthened some other problem areas too. For the first leg of that semi-final against Atletico last season, Mark Schwarzer replaced the injured Petr Cech after eighteen minutes, Ashley Cole was at left-back, David Luiz was in central midfield alongside Frank Lampard. As much as the attacking zone was much-maligned, Chelsea needed surgery elsewhere and with Filipe Luis, Nemanja Matic and Loic Remy all arriving, there is an impressive depth to the squad. But, Mourinho will be aware of one glaring issue early on: the amount of goals his side have conceded.
Last season, Chelsea leaked 27 goals from 38 Premier League games – the lowest in the league by a distance (Manchester City shipped 37). But from four fixtures already, Chelsea have allowed six and kept just clean-sheet (at home to a newly-promoted side). It may not sound like much but Mourinho prides himself on being resolute. They’re conceding eleven shots per game (8th best – Southampton and Liverpool lead the way with eight) and have kept an average of 55% possession (7th-best in the division) while their pass success is 84% (7th-best again). None of the defensive figures are great and Mourinho will certainly look to tighten the issues sooner rather than later.
In the season opener against Burnley, they very nearly conceded inside the first five minutes when Lukas Jutkiewicz was slipped through in the left side of the area, cut inside Branislav Ivanovic but could only hit the side-net with his strike. For Swansea’s opening goal on Saturday, Neil Taylor was allowed race down the left and picked up Ki Sun-Yeung’s through-ball as Chelsea narrowed-up, were attracted to the ball and then belatedly tried to play offside. When Kevin Miralles grabbed Everton’s first goal at Goodison Park, it came from Seamus Coleman having acres of space to send in a pinpoint cross. When Steven Naismith scored Everton’s second, he raced into oceans of space on Ivanovic’s right to pick up Aiden McGeady’s through-ball.
http://vine.co/v/OBOtWheaKHO
Last season, Chelsea were undone in Europe because of ‘wide’ players like Hazard not tracking runners. Already this season, the same problem has cropped up again.
One other issue is set pieces. Eto’o scored Everton’s third from a Leighton Baines’ free-kick delivery while they very nearly after 15 minutes when Romelu Lukaku’s header from a corner crashed back off the underside of the bar. At Turf Moor in the season opener, Burnley’s goal came courtesy of a brilliant strike from Scott Arfield but the trouble started when a corner wasn’t properly cleared and Oscar didn’t cover himself in glory by pushing out too far and then losing his footing, allowing Matty Taylor to race in behind and send in a perfect cross. So, perhaps both of Chelsea’s defensive problems have been in place since the opening day.
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But, right now, Mourinho can count on his side’s incredible attacking ethos to get them racking up goals and points. As much as Costa has been heralded for his economy in front of goal (4 games, 14 shots, 7 goals), he’s also a magnificent target man who rarely surrenders possession or squanders decent attacking positions. In four league fixtures, he’s been dispossessed three times and wandered offside just twice. To compare, Wayne Rooney is dispossessed on two occasions per game against Costa’s 0.8.
Stephen Pond / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Stephen Pond / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images
The Spanish international is involved in Chelsea’s play outside the area and offers a target from goal kicks (should they want to go direct) and from balls played into the channel. He’ll rarely try and beat a player, the goal instead to use his terrific close-control to engineer a pass to a team-mate so the attack can continue. But, he’s a fearsome presence in the area. Against Swansea, he received the ball directly seven times inside the eighteen-yard box (analysis-wise, Ramires’ assist for his third goal is being counted as a shot rather than a pass) and scored three times. He had another shot blocked when it looked destined for the net. Those are incredible numbers and should Chelsea keep him fit, there’s no reason why he can’t hit close to thirty league goals.
With Chelsea having comfortably beaten Schalke home and away last season, it should be a straightforward assignment for Jose Mourinho. But it’s also a chance to improve on certain elements and fine-tune ahead of the crucial trip to the Etihad next Sunday. So, certainly a test tonight but much sterner ones are still to come.
Other talking points ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League:
1)Can Premier League champions pull off another win in Bavaria?
James Milner celebrates after scoring for Manchester City against Bayern in last year's Champions League group stage. John Walton / EMPICS Sport
John Walton / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport
Bayern Munich v Manchester City, Group E.
For the third time in four years, these sides face each other and City must really think there’s a conspiracy at this stage.
But, City’s record against the Bavarians shows two wins from four games. And their last trip to Munich resulted in a memorable 2-3 victory, City coming from 2-0 down to stage a remarkable fightback and claim the three points.
But, City will be also thinking about the other fixtures in the group. Roma will be stiff opponents while the trip to Moscow to face CSKA ensures a potential banana-skin. So, they’ll take anything that’s going at the Allianz Arena. Not that that’s going to be much.
It’s been a solid if unimpressive start to the domestic season for Bayern – Pep Guardiola’s side racking up two wins and a draw from their three games so far. They’ll also be missing some important players like Javi Martinez, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thiago Alcantara while Rafinha is also doubtful. But ominously for City, Franck Ribery made a goal-scoring return to action against Stuttgart on Saturday (not bad for a 22-minute substitute appearance) though it remains to be seen whether he’ll get the nod to start.
Guardiola was quite damning in his appraisal of the side’s performance at the weekend, admitting Bayern had problems with their final ball and lacked Ribery’s ability in take-on situations. So, expect a significant improvement tonight. City, you have been warned.
2) Are PSG one-hit wonders or serious contenders?
Can Zlatan Ibrahimovic spur PSG on to another impressive Champions League showing? Michel Euler / AP/Press Association Images
Michel Euler / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Ajax v Paris St. Germain, Group F
It’s hard to believe that such a storied and illustrious club like Ajax have failed to get past the group-stage of this tournament since 2005/2006. This season’s campaign takes on added significance given it will be twenty years next May when Louis van Gaal’s gifted young side last claimed the European Cup for Ajax.
For the last four years, there has been some relative reward for them in the form of qualification to the Europa League and that might have to suffice once again, especially with Barcelona and PSG standing in their way of progression to the knockout round.
But, last year, it was their away form that cost them dearly. In Amsterdam, they secured a memorable victory over Barca while they narrowly beat Celtic and drew with Milan. Seven of their eight points last season came at home so it’s critical that they get something from this evening’s battle.
Ajax got back to winning ways domestically on Saturday though have suffered two defeats from their first five games. PSG are unbeaten after their first five but did stumble at the weekend, drawing 1-1 away to Rennes.
Having reached the quarter-finals of last season’s tournament, PSG will be striving to ensure it wasn’t just a temporary thing. But with three teams capable of getting out of the group, any slip-up could prove damaging.
Analysis: Costa key for Chelsea but so too is sorting out defensive concerns
IT CAME DOWN to one minute, according to Jose Mourinho. At one end of the pitch, there was Thibaut Courtois’ excellent save from John Terry’s header. Moments later, Diego Costa was taken down in the area by Samuel Eto’o and the striker took the resultant penalty himself to put his side in front.
It’s ironic to think that the two players who essentially prevented Chelsea from reaching last year’s Champions League final are now at Stamford Bridge and critical to the club’s hopes of reaching another European decider.
Mourinho has been rightly lauded for bringing in Costa and Cesc Fabregas in the summer but he’s strengthened some other problem areas too. For the first leg of that semi-final against Atletico last season, Mark Schwarzer replaced the injured Petr Cech after eighteen minutes, Ashley Cole was at left-back, David Luiz was in central midfield alongside Frank Lampard. As much as the attacking zone was much-maligned, Chelsea needed surgery elsewhere and with Filipe Luis, Nemanja Matic and Loic Remy all arriving, there is an impressive depth to the squad. But, Mourinho will be aware of one glaring issue early on: the amount of goals his side have conceded.
Last season, Chelsea leaked 27 goals from 38 Premier League games – the lowest in the league by a distance (Manchester City shipped 37). But from four fixtures already, Chelsea have allowed six and kept just clean-sheet (at home to a newly-promoted side). It may not sound like much but Mourinho prides himself on being resolute. They’re conceding eleven shots per game (8th best – Southampton and Liverpool lead the way with eight) and have kept an average of 55% possession (7th-best in the division) while their pass success is 84% (7th-best again). None of the defensive figures are great and Mourinho will certainly look to tighten the issues sooner rather than later.
In the season opener against Burnley, they very nearly conceded inside the first five minutes when Lukas Jutkiewicz was slipped through in the left side of the area, cut inside Branislav Ivanovic but could only hit the side-net with his strike. For Swansea’s opening goal on Saturday, Neil Taylor was allowed race down the left and picked up Ki Sun-Yeung’s through-ball as Chelsea narrowed-up, were attracted to the ball and then belatedly tried to play offside. When Kevin Miralles grabbed Everton’s first goal at Goodison Park, it came from Seamus Coleman having acres of space to send in a pinpoint cross. When Steven Naismith scored Everton’s second, he raced into oceans of space on Ivanovic’s right to pick up Aiden McGeady’s through-ball.
http://vine.co/v/OBOtWheaKHO
Last season, Chelsea were undone in Europe because of ‘wide’ players like Hazard not tracking runners. Already this season, the same problem has cropped up again.
One other issue is set pieces. Eto’o scored Everton’s third from a Leighton Baines’ free-kick delivery while they very nearly after 15 minutes when Romelu Lukaku’s header from a corner crashed back off the underside of the bar. At Turf Moor in the season opener, Burnley’s goal came courtesy of a brilliant strike from Scott Arfield but the trouble started when a corner wasn’t properly cleared and Oscar didn’t cover himself in glory by pushing out too far and then losing his footing, allowing Matty Taylor to race in behind and send in a perfect cross. So, perhaps both of Chelsea’s defensive problems have been in place since the opening day.
But, right now, Mourinho can count on his side’s incredible attacking ethos to get them racking up goals and points. As much as Costa has been heralded for his economy in front of goal (4 games, 14 shots, 7 goals), he’s also a magnificent target man who rarely surrenders possession or squanders decent attacking positions. In four league fixtures, he’s been dispossessed three times and wandered offside just twice. To compare, Wayne Rooney is dispossessed on two occasions per game against Costa’s 0.8.
The Spanish international is involved in Chelsea’s play outside the area and offers a target from goal kicks (should they want to go direct) and from balls played into the channel. He’ll rarely try and beat a player, the goal instead to use his terrific close-control to engineer a pass to a team-mate so the attack can continue. But, he’s a fearsome presence in the area. Against Swansea, he received the ball directly seven times inside the eighteen-yard box (analysis-wise, Ramires’ assist for his third goal is being counted as a shot rather than a pass) and scored three times. He had another shot blocked when it looked destined for the net. Those are incredible numbers and should Chelsea keep him fit, there’s no reason why he can’t hit close to thirty league goals.
With Chelsea having comfortably beaten Schalke home and away last season, it should be a straightforward assignment for Jose Mourinho. But it’s also a chance to improve on certain elements and fine-tune ahead of the crucial trip to the Etihad next Sunday. So, certainly a test tonight but much sterner ones are still to come.
Other talking points ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League:
1) Can Premier League champions pull off another win in Bavaria?
Bayern Munich v Manchester City, Group E.
For the third time in four years, these sides face each other and City must really think there’s a conspiracy at this stage.
But, City’s record against the Bavarians shows two wins from four games. And their last trip to Munich resulted in a memorable 2-3 victory, City coming from 2-0 down to stage a remarkable fightback and claim the three points.
But, City will be also thinking about the other fixtures in the group. Roma will be stiff opponents while the trip to Moscow to face CSKA ensures a potential banana-skin. So, they’ll take anything that’s going at the Allianz Arena. Not that that’s going to be much.
It’s been a solid if unimpressive start to the domestic season for Bayern – Pep Guardiola’s side racking up two wins and a draw from their three games so far. They’ll also be missing some important players like Javi Martinez, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thiago Alcantara while Rafinha is also doubtful. But ominously for City, Franck Ribery made a goal-scoring return to action against Stuttgart on Saturday (not bad for a 22-minute substitute appearance) though it remains to be seen whether he’ll get the nod to start.
Guardiola was quite damning in his appraisal of the side’s performance at the weekend, admitting Bayern had problems with their final ball and lacked Ribery’s ability in take-on situations. So, expect a significant improvement tonight. City, you have been warned.
2) Are PSG one-hit wonders or serious contenders?
Ajax v Paris St. Germain, Group F
It’s hard to believe that such a storied and illustrious club like Ajax have failed to get past the group-stage of this tournament since 2005/2006. This season’s campaign takes on added significance given it will be twenty years next May when Louis van Gaal’s gifted young side last claimed the European Cup for Ajax.
For the last four years, there has been some relative reward for them in the form of qualification to the Europa League and that might have to suffice once again, especially with Barcelona and PSG standing in their way of progression to the knockout round.
But, last year, it was their away form that cost them dearly. In Amsterdam, they secured a memorable victory over Barca while they narrowly beat Celtic and drew with Milan. Seven of their eight points last season came at home so it’s critical that they get something from this evening’s battle.
Ajax got back to winning ways domestically on Saturday though have suffered two defeats from their first five games. PSG are unbeaten after their first five but did stumble at the weekend, drawing 1-1 away to Rennes.
Having reached the quarter-finals of last season’s tournament, PSG will be striving to ensure it wasn’t just a temporary thing. But with three teams capable of getting out of the group, any slip-up could prove damaging.
Jeremy Menez turns on the after-burners for the weirdest goal of the weekend
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Cesc Fabregas Champions League Diego Costa Jose Mourinho Stamford Bridge water cooler