After putting together one of the most dominant seasons in Premier League history to bring a title back to Stamford Bridge, there was little doubt that it would be nearly impossible for Chelsea to repeat last year’s outstanding campaign.
Reality hit hard when the Blues opened the season with an uninspiring 2-2 draw to Swansea, which was followed up by a 3-0 result where they were completely outmatched by rival Manchester City. While they managed to get back on track with a 3-2 win over West Brom last week, things are still far from comfortable for Jose Mourinho, his players and the fans.
Inability To Match Last Season’s Dominance
The Blues stormed out of the gates last season and set Premier League records for the amount of time they spent at the top of the table on their way to a championship title. Chelsea lost only three league games all season and by the time it was all said and done, they had finished eight points clear of Manchester City for the best record in England’s top flight.
The club’s considerable talent level kept expectations high but there weren’t many experts – or even fans – that projected they’d come close to matching last year’s dominance. What’s been particularly frustrating early on is that they have been very sluggish to start the season. Being anywhere outside of first place was a foreign feeling all of last season but as we enter the fourth week of EPL play, Chelsea currently sits in 10th.
Lack Of Transfer Window Movement
A year ago, the Blues brought in Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas among others to play key roles both up front and in their midfield. Those moves really paid off with both players performing at a high level as key pieces on last year’s championship club.
However, Chelsea did little to add to their roster over the summer and while their pursuit of Paul Pogba and John Stones has revived some optimism that the club could add two or even three key pieces soon, it has been frustrating for Chelsea fans to watch rival teams reload in the offseason while Chelsea stood pat.
Realistically, they were the champs and didn’t need to do much but it seems like one or two key acquisitions could have boosted momentum. Absent of that, the team has been a bit listless so far.
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Jose Mourinho’s Penchant For Controversy
There is little doubt that Mourinho deserves consideration among the best managers in football but his outspoken and unapologetic character can rub some people the wrong way. His penchant for controversy can bring a negative focus on the team as he’s done this season.
Last season’s dominance certainly set the bar high and while the team has struggled early on, it seemed to amplify the problem when Mourinho called out the fans and the overall atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. He may have had a point but the comments only shed more negativity on an already tough situation. Maybe he’s just trying to distract attention from the team’s performance on to himself but either way, it’s not sitting well with onlookers.
The Stamford Bridge Atmosphere
While Mourinho didn’t do anybody a favor by calling out the fans for the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge and probably shouldn’t have said it, he did have a point in that the crowd could definitely be better for most games – including the key matches against rival clubs.
Part of the problem is that victories are almost expected more than desired, and those expectations have caused more frustration than passion.
Ultimately, Mourinho was right in that the fans need to do a better job supporting their club. At the same time, his words only added to the frustration of a fan base that suddenly has a lot to be upset about at this point early on in the season.
