JUST WILLIAN
Brazilian star accepts all is not well at the Bridge: ‘Of course, the football has to improve. Chelsea always want to win titles and to see these teams in front of us is difficult. We want to be there’
HE is coveted by others but Willian continues to keep faith with Chelsea.
Having stars of his calibre, the Blues have risen from the ashes before. A shambolic title defence, a chastening exit from the Champions League and just five wins from their last 20 games have made this another one of those years at Stamford Bridge. In the Roman Abramovich era, they have built a reputation as a club unwilling to settle for mediocrity. Yet Antonio Conte’s side – knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona – have watched the quarter-finals on TV this week. The Premier League title has been Manchester City’s for months. West Ham pinched a draw on Sunday while Spurs – winners at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 28 years – are on course to become London’s top club. Chelsea’s players have much to inspire them. “Yes. I think that hurt a little bit,” said Willian, his side now 10 points off the top four. “It doesn’t matter the team, to lose isn’t good. I think something will have to change for next season.
“If a team like Chelsea wants to reach the top four we can’t draw against West Ham at home. We can’t lose against Tottenham at home.
“Of course we still have the FA Cup to fight for. We still have six games to fight for. But we have to change something.”
As the inquest continues there are claims the squad is ordinary, that it no longer has leaders such as John Terry, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic.
Willian disagrees: “I think we have this kind of player. Of course these guys were very special here – JT, Ivanovic, Lampard.
“But we have Gary Cahill. We have Azpilicueta. We have David Luiz. Players. Leaders.
“To become a leader like that isn’t in my profile. I’m just quiet. I want to go onto the pitch. Play. But I think we can win titles when you don’t have leaders but if you train, if you have a plan to go into a game.
“From the videos of other teams we can see the best way they can play. The mistakes they make. In this way we can do something different. Something special.” Willian has met challenges head on throughout his career. Aged 19 he travelled to Donetsk in Ukraine, where he lived alone for the first six months to make his name with Shakhtar before moving to Anzhi.
During Jose Mourinho’s reign at Chelsea, his work ethic saw him nail down a place on the right in preference to Juan Mata.
He is more than ready for his current fight, to help reclaim the Blues’ status as London’s top club and Premier League top dogs.
Not that he has any fears about a momentum shift.
“For me Chelsea will always be Chelsea,” he added. “It doesn’t matter where we are. The name is too big.
“Of course, the football has to improve. Chelsea always want to win titles and to see these teams in front of us is difficult. We want to be there.
“But Chelsea has won everything in the last 15 years. The club is one of the biggest in the world now.
“That’s why the pressure is coming – because Chelsea has to be top four, fighting for the title, fighting to do something special every season.
“This season I think we have one more chance to do something different to get a trophy. The FA Cup.
“I don’t like to switch on the TV and see someone saying, ‘Willian has played very bad’. This is hard.
“But the big players, they respond on the pitch. Not with words or something like that. In football you always have to give your answer on the pitch.”