JOSE’S REVAMP WORKS A TREAT
Costa cracker caps big win as Chelsea kick-start season without key names
Atiny portal to a happier past briefly opened at Stamford Bridge last night. thirteen minutes into the second half, Cesc Fabregas clipped a neat pass into the penalty area, which Diego Costa volleyed into the roof of the net, having muscled in front of his man, yuval Shpungin.
it was the third goal for a Chelsea side asserting their supremacy over inferior opponents, as they would have at this stage last season. the nil in the scoreline would have been a source of small delight for Jose Mourinho, as well. the first clean sheet of the season, and long overdue.
it vindicated the manager’s decision to leave some of the stellar names out of his starting line-up and go with fresher legs — and perhaps fresher minds, too. And while Maccabi, the first israeli side to reach the Champions League group stages since the 2010-11 season, were undoubtedly the poorest of opponents for the English clubs in the competition this week, this was a much-improved display from Chelsea. it did not flatter them when, in the 78th minute, Maccabi goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic parried a low finish from Loic Remy, only for Fabregas to slot the fourth into an empty net.
Mourinho sat down after that. Relaxed at last. it is Arsenal here next, and he knew Chelsea had to make a statement of intent before that game. He must be sick of Chelsea being the marks this season — taken apart by Manchester City and an Everton substitute. So poor has Chelsea’s form been that some already consider the title beyond them; the Champions League is discussed as the season’s saving grace.
A win over Maccabi will give no indication of Chelsea’s potential in Europe, and stronger opponents lie ahead in this competition — probably this group, too. But it was a poor result against a Champions League also-ran, Rosenborg of norway, that proved the tipping point in Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea, so at least a historical repeat has been avoided.
And maybe a corner has at last been turned. Maybe, Mourinho will hope, at last his luck is in. it is his belief that much of the Chelsea crisis is a simple matter of ill fortune. Every mistake has been punished, every break goes against them.
And events just five minutes into the game would have done little to persuade him that was about to change. Chelsea got a penalty, but not the full advantage they deserved, and then compounded this rotten luck by missing it. On the sidelines, Mourinho went crackers. He can smile as much as he likes for the cameras but this is definitely a man feeling the pressure of scarcely explicable failures.
Willian went clear of the Maccabi defence and was upended ferociously by goalkeeper Rajkovic. Referee Felix Zwayer gave the penalty but showed only a yellow card. there is much debate about what is termed triple jeopardy in these instances. it is claimed the offender is punished three times: by the penalty, the sending-off and the resulting ban. A booking should suffice, if a penalty is given, it is said. What happened next showed that for the flawed argument it is.
Eden Hazard came off his short run and promptly sent the ball into orbit. it was as poor as any penalty ever seen around these parts and, as Pat nevin will recall, there have been a few contenders. So, in effect, this was Rajkovic and Maccabi’s punishment: nothing. the team did not lose a goal, a player, or its first-choice goalkeeper for the next match. if the authorities remove the hefty triple punishment for taking out a forward in a scoring position, it is undoubtedly a chance that will be worth taking.
As for Hazard, that is three of six penalties missed in the Champions League, and when Chelsea got another chance from the spot later in the half, it was no surprise he was relieved of his duties. it really was a dreadful kick, the sign of a player short of confidence in a team equally reduced going into this game.
As for Chelsea, justice was done shortly after. Rajkovic should not have been on the pitch and given his attempt to deal with a Willian free-kick 10 minutes later, he may as well not have been.
the Brazilian was 35 yards out when he whipped in a low one, looking for a team-mate to get the vital touch. none did, but they were enough of a threat and a distraction to catch Rajkovic in two minds. He didn’t come for the ball but didn’t cover his far post either, and the ball skidded in unaided. it was Willian’s last meaningful involvement of the game. He felt a hamstring in his right leg eight minutes later and was replaced by Diego Costa.
And so, one of the biggest statements of Mourinho’s managerial career, was over after just 23 minutes. His decision to revive this Chelsea team by dropping four of its biggest names was a bold one.
John terry already had an inkling of Mourinho’s displeasure with his half-time substitution against Manchester City. this was a stage further: left out altogether after the 3-1 defeat by Everton. Branislav ivanovic went, too — hardly a surprise given his form — plus nemanja Matic and Costa. it could be argued that Chelsea have Arsenal on Saturday, except this did not feel like a resting, more an attempt to breathe life into the Chelsea monster.
Abdul Rahman Baba came in at left-back, allowing Cesar Azpilicueta to play on his natural right side, Loic Remy replaced Costa, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek took over in midfield. He was booked inside a minute for a studs-up challenge on nikola Mitrovic, but recovered and played a fine game.
With Costa’s introduction, however, that was the end of Mourinho’s star- studded naughty step, although the striker repaid him by winning the penalty that sealed the game. two minutes of first-half injury time had been played when Costa battled his way into the sixyard box, at which point a gang of tal Ben Haims bundled him to the ground. in a commentator’s nightmare, Maccabi have two players with identical names, listed as tal Ben Haim i and ii, like kings. nothing regal about their defending, though, with ii pulling Costa back before i tripped him over.
Zwayer did the right thing again. Oscar stepped and, after a shuffle, slid the ball in on the left as Hazard looked on. now why didn’t i think of that, he must have wondered.