Chelsea were labelled as an ’embarrassing’ and ‘a joke’ by their own players (Gary Cahill and Ashley Cole) for their performance during the 4-1 drubbing against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup at the Stade Louis Stadium in Monaco.
It was a complete humiliation to watch the Blues crumble at the hands of Radamel Falcao and company, and it my opinion it doesn’t matter if the game carries prestige or not, every defeat hurts regardless of the competition. The feelings were pretty much summed up by the look on John Terry’s face at the end of the match, he didn’t even play in the game due to suspension but was visibly gutted.
However, it was refreshing to see some of the players holding their hands up and accepting responsibility for this one. Ashley Cole tweeted:
“Well that was a lesson, absolute joke no fight, desire, passion, and a big reality check!!!!!! #sorrycfcfans.”
Whilst our goal-scorer Cahill shared a similar sentiment:
“We approach every game in the same way. It was a massive game and we let ourselves down and passed up a great opportunity.
“It is difficult. Obviously we will look to bounce back in the league as this was unacceptable.”
Everything went wrong from the off. Falcao hit the bar in the fourth minute but Chelsea didn’t heed the warning and he opened the scoring two minutes later and it only took the former Porto forward one half of football to earn his hat-trick, effectively putting the tie to bed.
It’s always easy to judge things in hindsight but there was no real shape to Chelsea yesterday and I don’t believe this is a problem with the formation, only those that were asked to play in it. Despite having the extra deep midfielder the Madrid side went through us with ease as Frank Lampard constantly abandoned his position as he ran into the space the likes of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard are meant to occupy. Not only was he treading on their toes by doing this, he didn’t offer any threat going forward and left John Obi Mikel, only player to have a decent game, to do all the midfield work alone. Perhaps we should have lined up as we did against Newcastle which has been our best showing of the season so far.
But the area that will come under the most criticism is the defence. Branislav Ivanovic being the worst offender as he put in his worst ever performance in a Chelsea shirt. As for David Luiz…words fail me but his night was summed up by attempting a clearance with a backheel. We were clearly missing our captain and leader in this area of the field.
We didn’t offer any sort of threat going forward as we barely saw the likes of Mata and Hazard, whilst Ramires continues to struggle to find the form he showed last season and Fernando Torres was an isolated figure.
The game was extremely frustrating but we still have a few new faces to integrate into the side and hopefully this will help solve some of the problems. If we’re focussing on the positives, we’re still top of the Premier League and Roberto Di Matteo has some time to think things over during the international break to make sure we do not put in that sort of performance again.
it’s jst another game entirely,we lost a match we could ve won & we played badly.Let start again & make sure this didnt repeat itself coz the season stil fresh.UP RDM,UP BLUES!
I blame the defeat on coach Demateo. His inability to read the match cost Chelsea the embarrassement. Furthermore, he has too much respect for some of the players that he cannot substitute them even when they are cospicously useless on the pitch. Just like Lampard who had absolutely nothing to offer to the team. And he makes subs at a time when nothing can be achieved. He need to sit up if he really want to last at Chelsea. Blues for life.
Lampard ,Luis and Iva cost us the match as well as RDM’s lack of tactics .
My big fear is RDM will not have the backbone to bench Lampard and this will cost us .
For Me, If Roberto Di Matteo Is To Repeat His Last Season SUCCESS: I Think, He Need To Be More Technical And More Harsh On Some Players That Would Cost Him His Job, And Give Him FAILURE.
If A Player Could Not Get His Game Within 45 Minutes: That Player Does Not Deserve To Start The Second Half.
Captain Lampard Was Totally Lost In The First Half, Why Not Raul Meireles In The Second Half, May Be We Might Come Back Into That Game.
Honestly, It’s A Bad Night For Us.
I Still Very Much Believe In Roberto Di Matteo.
Up Chelsea FC, The European Champions.
pliz let us start saving 4 falcao seriously
its true Lamps deserved 2 be subed after 45 mins may be 4 Raul M.Even Oscar Emboabar needs more playing minutes on the pitch. And we still lack a powerful striker like DD,is it Andre S. Or Victor Moses 2 fill the void? respect RDM, Blues 4 lyf.
am so surprised that everybody is saying lampard yes true he was no where near ok let alone good , go back and look at the video.
Mistake number one MIkel gets the ball passes awfully then there was the confusion , next thing goal comes
mistake number two same mikel messes up a pass
number three same mikel its only number four that was not him even that one watch his cover.
the man is not good he lacks ideas as a defensive midfielder, his cover is not good,passes forward bad(back passes are perfect) atletico won the game from midfield .
Now essien is gone to Real and we all will see his effect on games. i think Mikel is fielded because of the Nigerian effect they actually gave him his job at chelsea that is why lets be true mikel is not good at defensive midfield.
if mikel plays Mata,hazard,lampard,Rami all comes back to help push the ball forward at the same time defenders like luiz always moves forward to drive the team forward and each time they do so look at the position of mikel as a defensive midfielder he needs to be the cover and the engine .
“Falcao hit the bar in the fourth minute but Chelsea didn’t heed the warning and he opened the scoring two minutes later ”
di mateo thought it will go away 🙂
like before (last year), that ‘s why no reaction from him;
we all saw falcao unmarked, how stupid is that?
the clueless man just stood in the dug out !!
i dont no wat RDM sees in mikel
the guy lacks creativity,passin,confidence,ball control.
Actually a midfield who has only a goal ever sinces wearin a blue shirt,ah,RDM, open your eyes.
even raul M. has more goal than mikel since he joined the blues.
Mikel lacks everytin as a midfielder.
As for shootin the ball,i dont want 2 talk about cos Cahil is far far far beta.
RDM shine your eyes cos pep G is just behind u if u play loose.
pls guys. Demateo was jst luck be a chelsea coach bcs technically his dull so dat macth i will blame him dat. nd dat team lack espirence in some players to me the espirence one ar nt effective. it will take a good coach 2 blend dis team. so guys more defeat on d way especially in big macthes. nd for mikel 7yrs in a club no imprument ,confidence,backpass i dont no y his playing in dat team.