Are Chelsea fading into the blue, or is this a mild case of receiving a bolt from the blue? All idioms aside, here's an insight into why I think it's the latter(and why they still have a chance at finishing at the top).
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| Josh McEachran |
“I think Josh McEachran can play every game. He showed his quality. He was good defensively, won a lot of tackles. And, obviously, with the ball he’s fantastic."
Those were the words of Carlo Ancelotti (after Chelsea's UEFA Champions League game against MSK Zilina) describing the promising 17-year-old youngster. Great performances from Van Aanholt, McEachran and goals from Malouda and Sturridge ensured a 2-1 Victory.
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| Daniel Sturridge |
Although Chelsea have important players missing in Terry (sciatica), Lampard (groin injury), Benayoun (achilles) and Essien (suspension), they have more-than-able replacements available to them in senior players like Ramires, Ivanovic, Zhirkov and Kalou and youngsters like Bruma, McEachran , Van Aanholt and Sturridge.
While these senior players will be out to show their worth and try to cement their place in the starting 11 (before the injured players return), the youngsters will be more than eager to get some time on the ball and build their confidence(and the confidence of the manager). All three youngsters started the game against Zilina and have proven to be skillful, valuable, and have given us a glimpse of the team's bright future.
The team seems to be bouncing back from the gloom that surrounded it as a result of, both on-the-field and off-the field, factors like the string of recent defeats (to Liverpool, Sunderland, and Birmingham), change in coaching staff(replacement of assistant coach Ray Wilkins) and the reported uncertainty that the manager might leave the club. They showed good resilience and attitude, and came back from a goal down to win 2-1 on Tuesday night. All this from a team that had only 4 players of the usual starting 11 on the field at kick-off time.
Despite these "major setbacks" Chelsea are still top of the league(albeit on goal difference) and other teams of the "top 4" are also just bouncing back from draws and defeats, and have been in poor form of late. Add to this, all injuries to main team players from various teams like Arsenal (Emmanuel Eboue, Diaby and Cesc Fabregas), Manchester City (Pablo Zabaleta) and Manchester United (Darren Fletcher, Antonio Valencia and Owen Hargreaves).
Considering these factors, and the fact that Chelsea have bounced back from sacking of managers, shock departures of senior players, and painful (and arguably unjust) defeats at crucial stages of the Champions league, it is more than safe to say that all hope isn't lost at the Bridge.
So for all the the blues who are starting to moan,
and starting to think if there will ever be a
blue tomorrow, I ask that you be Carefree.
'Cause
Who ever you are
Where-ever you may be
We are the famous CFC
And we don't give a f*ck
Who-ever you may be
Cause we are the famous CFC!
