A combination of the Blues' determination and
Manchester City's incompetence has brought the title within reach, but
the swagger and style of autumn is long gone
Pride dented and aura damaged by Wednesday’s Champions League exit to
10-man Paris Saint-Germain, Jose Mourinho picked an interesting moment
to revisit the theme that helped him make such an explosive introduction
to English football back in the summer of 2004. “My happiness, first of
all, is when I compare myself with the others [managers], I see just a
few that are with me in terms of success… you are too much worried about
myself,” he told reporters. “What makes me feel special is that I am
above all of this.”
Such outspoken confidence might prove hazardous for a lesser manager. But just as in his first season at Chelsea, Mourinho is poised to back up his bold talk with the Premier League trophy – even if Sunday’s draw with Southampton provided further evidence that the manner of the triumph is proving markedly less “special” than the man himself.
Hoping for a reaction to the PSG setback, Mourinho made just one change to the side that failed to beat the 10-man Ligue 1 champions. He got one, at least until Diego Costa scored his first goal in almost two months. Then Sadio Mane started running all over a startlingly hapless Nemanja Matic, Shane Long caused his typical nuisance and Chelsea once again looked the tired, fragile team we have watched limp their way to the title since mid-January.
Indeed, the biggest surprise as gaps opened up and mistakes were made in the second half was that Southampton, who had the benefit of 11 days rest and training for this game, were the ones who found themselves driven back and eventually pinned inside their own half. The introduction of Ramires for Matic on 53 minutes, in Mourinho’s words, “killed the counter-attack”, and only towering performances from Morgan Schneiderlin, Jose Fonte and Fraser Forster ensured the visitors escaped Stamford Bridge with a point.
A winner proved elusive, and Chelsea have now been victorious by more than one goal in only one of their last 12 matches. Against PSG their sin was pragmatism; against Southampton it was profligacy. A mixture of both has undermined Mourinho’s men since the turn of the year and is now threatening to help turn this Premier League title race into a comedy of errors.
Such outspoken confidence might prove hazardous for a lesser manager. But just as in his first season at Chelsea, Mourinho is poised to back up his bold talk with the Premier League trophy – even if Sunday’s draw with Southampton provided further evidence that the manner of the triumph is proving markedly less “special” than the man himself.
Hoping for a reaction to the PSG setback, Mourinho made just one change to the side that failed to beat the 10-man Ligue 1 champions. He got one, at least until Diego Costa scored his first goal in almost two months. Then Sadio Mane started running all over a startlingly hapless Nemanja Matic, Shane Long caused his typical nuisance and Chelsea once again looked the tired, fragile team we have watched limp their way to the title since mid-January.
Indeed, the biggest surprise as gaps opened up and mistakes were made in the second half was that Southampton, who had the benefit of 11 days rest and training for this game, were the ones who found themselves driven back and eventually pinned inside their own half. The introduction of Ramires for Matic on 53 minutes, in Mourinho’s words, “killed the counter-attack”, and only towering performances from Morgan Schneiderlin, Jose Fonte and Fraser Forster ensured the visitors escaped Stamford Bridge with a point.
A winner proved elusive, and Chelsea have now been victorious by more than one goal in only one of their last 12 matches. Against PSG their sin was pragmatism; against Southampton it was profligacy. A mixture of both has undermined Mourinho’s men since the turn of the year and is now threatening to help turn this Premier League title race into a comedy of errors.
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