Chelsea are SOFT: Why they've talent of champions but not mentality
COMMENT: It was utter humiliation for Chelsea on Saturday. But on evidence, 14th in the Premier League sounds just about right for this Blues team.
No, we're not talking about ability. Nor experience. Nor potential. But mentally, on current form, Chelsea's players are below mid-table standard. We're witnessing a defending champion having their character tested - and they're failing, dismally.
There's no other way you can slice it. Chelsea are soft. Diego Costa? Soft. Cesc Fabregas? Soft. Oscar? Soft.
On the field, Diego Costa has built himself a reputation of being a warrior. But when you're dropped, the tough thing is to suck it up, remain part of the group and prove yourself to the manager. But when your response is to throw a wobbler, launching a bib at your coach for the world to see, you're soft.
David Beckham is no Diego Costa. But when he was dropped by Fabio Capello, not just from the XI, but from the Real Madrid squad, there was no strop. He dug in, fought his way back and left Real a La Liga title winner. That's character. That's mental strength. That's everything this Chelsea team is lacking.
Jose Mourinho defended their performance yesterday, but also, without spelling it out, touched on the lack of desire from certain players. You could even read into Mou's words him questioning his players' courage.
"All these crosses from the right side, not long crosses, short ones by Ivanovic, Pedro, Willian, you have to touch the ball in the face of the goal and then there is no chance for the keeper," he complained.
"The only time we had contact was the Matic one, which was difficult for him because of the mask and the cross was really fast. The other ones, the short and low ones, if you are in the box you have to attack the ball. They are big chances we have to score ."
Reading between the lines, Mou was almost pleading 'Where's the desperation?' 'Where's the desire?' He came as close as he has to actually singling out and criticising his players.
In the lead up, there was a good atmosphere at Cobham last week. A real sense of 'turning the corner', as one source told tribalfootball.com, after the draw at Tottenham. The Christmas party in midweek only added to the positivity around the place.
But last week was, in a nutshell, why Chelsea have stumbled along this season. It's all too comfortable. The players have been happy to do just enough. The result at Spurs eased the bad press, the pressure was lifted. Instead of getting their head down and working harder to build on that result, there was a sigh of relief. It was Bournemouth at home. They could relax. Go through the motions. Have their Christmas party. And collect the three points on Saturday.
And that's been the attitude since before preseason. Players returned from their summer break overweight and underdone. Self-entitled. A poor start to the season was dismissed. As Gary Cahill has since admitted, they just thought they'd start winning. But it hasn't happened. And now the mental strength needed to dig themselves out of this hole is simply not there.
They'll win on Wednesday night. Against Porto, Chelsea could well steamroll the Portuguese. They'll be into the Champions League knockouts. And, ahh, yes, the pressure will be off, the good press will be back, and training won't have to be so tense. And then, on Monday, they'll go to Leicester City...
That's not the character of champions. But it is the mentality of his Chelsea squad. And it'll get worse before it gets better. Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and soon John Terry. That's a massive void yet to be filled.
Yes, talent-wise Chelsea boast players capable of matching those four greats. But mentally? No. Not on current form. It's all become too easy at Cobham. Too comfortable. The place has gone soft and the players are being found out.
Big wages. Big reputations. But big hearts? Well, they were tiny compared to what was beating beneath Bournemouth shirts on Saturday.
INJURY TIME
It does look like Chelsea fans will see the kids this season.
Jose Mourinho handed Bertrand Traore a chance late on against Bournemouth yesterday. He's gradually introduced Kenedy and Ruben Loftus-Cheek this season. And started Abdul Rahman Baba at left-back against the Cherries.
The Blues boss virtually gave up on the top four in the post-match presser - which gives him and the board a dilemma. Do Chelsea play for Europa League qualification? Or do they try to avoid it by giving the kids a look in the second-half of the season.
Mourinho has already stated he'll play the youngsters if they're out of contention this season. And on current evidence, he is ready to stick to his word. Which could be just the circumstance needed to rescue the club from making a major transfer blunder.
Charly Musonda is ready for first team football. He's ready for the Premier League. Even last January, AS Monaco were convinced he could make an instant impact in Ligue 1.
The chat that Musonda will leave Cobham in January won't disappear. Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal all willing to ferry the young Belgian away. But Chelsea aren't treating Musonda like an after-thought.
Andy Myers made him captain for their Premier League International Cup win over Celtic on Friday. Musonda was on the scoresheet in the 5-0 rout.
His form warrants a first team chance, particularly considering what we're seeing from Oscar and Cesc Fabregas. The chance to get that taste of Premier League football - and in a Blues shirt - would be enough for Musonda and his famous Dad to rethink their exit plans for 2016.