JOSE WARNING IS IN VAIN
Boss axes more big names but nervous Chelsea slump again
The warnings from Jose Mourinho were loud and clear. Stars on the bench, stars left in London and still Chelsea were unable to stop their star from falling a little further.
Mourinho blamed attitude ahead of the game, but it was not a problem of desire here in Portugal, where they were outclassed at times and flattered by the result.
They were not awful for the entire game — there was a flurry in stoppage-time — but they were unrecognisable from the champions of last season, that imperious winning machine, built in Mourinho’s ruthless image.
Suddenly Chelsea are ravaged by nerves, prone to panic, vulnerable from set-pieces and low on confidence. No one epitomises the mess more than Branislav Ivanovic, who was tormented by the outstanding Yacine Brahimi.
how Iker Casillas enjoyed this record-breaking night as Mourinho’s mind tricks produced no magic and prompted the question: what can he do next? he has tried to charm and defend his players, he chided them gently before his verbal criticism became fiercer and culminated with threats to drop them all and ‘play the kids’.
Then this setback. Another defeat, a fifth in a campaign when the only wins have come against Walsall, Maccabi Tel Aviv, nine-man Arsenal and West Bromwich. Are they still listening?
Asmir Begovic emerges with some credit, having kept the score down with a series of saves, while in front of him only Willian responded to a recall, scoring his third free-kick in as many games to equalise at the end of the first half.
Porto had gone ahead through Andre Andre — so good they named him twice — and went back in front early in the second half when captain Maicon headed in from a corner. Conceding such a crucial goal from a set-piece will infuriate a meticulous organiser such as Mourinho — but he has broader issues.
This was a difficult test against an ambitious team and the result is not fatal. Chelsea ought to qualify from Group G, which also contains Maccabi and Dynamo Kiev.
Mourinho (right), however, cannot cajole his team into life. Keep an eye out for his selection for Saturday’s game at home to South- ampton. Double Player of the Year eden hazard and Nemanja Matic were axed for this one. There was no John Terry, but that has become the norm and the reason remains a mystery.
Can they be much worse with Terry at the back? he would bring leadership and organisation at least. Kurt Zouma and Gary Cahill are Mourinho’s new guard and they lacked composure last night.
Omitting hazard and Matic was perhaps an attempt to jolt them back into form. Both are vital to Chelsea, but the future looks bleaker for others.
Radamel Falcao, Loic Remy and Oscar did not make the squad despite being fit and available. It meant no recognised centre forward on the bench, and fortunately the unreliable hamstrings of Diego Costa did not twang on this occasion.
Costa, free from the ban ruling him out of domestic matches at the moment, started hungrily and created an early chance but Cesc Fabregas was denied by Casillas, making a record 152nd appearance in the Champions League.
At the back, Chelsea started sloppily and got worse. Porto moved fluently forward with the ball, energised by a noisy home crowd and encouraged by casual marking and hurried clearances. They seemed anxious. Others were dropped but Ivanovic remains in the team. Not only that, he is the captain, and yet badly out of touch and perhaps trying too hard to make amends. And, as the decibels increased, the home side grew in stature and took the lead six minutes before the interval. Brahimi skipped past Ivanovic into the box and forced Begovic to parry. Andre seized on the rebound and his volley had enough power to force its way past the goalkeeper.
As in Newcastle on Saturday, it was a combination of Ramires and Willian which hauled Chelsea level. A burst from Ramires drew a foul and Willian curled the free-kick inside the post.
Casillas barely flinched as it whipped into his net, but Chelsea surrendered the impetus when Maicon slipped free to convert a corner with a glancing header at the near post. Again, the set-piece had been conceded after Brahimi had given Ivanovic the slip.
The estadio do Dragao was still jumping with joy when Costa swung an improbable effort against the bar. Ivanovic went close with a header and Costa had a good claim for a penalty for handball but even referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz, said to be Mourinho’s favourite, did not oblige.