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In the article "Tribune," an analysis of the uncertain performance of the English Premier League champions, London Chelsea, this season is provided, compared to previous years.
There have already been 22 rounds played in the Premier League, and the season has entered the second half, but the top of the league table is not occupied by the usual champions, London Chelsea, as we are used to seeing, but the Manchester United team. The Londoners are in second place, trailing the Manchester United players by 6 points.
It is not surprising that Jose Mourinho's team always started well in the championship in previous years, leading confidently in the league table and step by step becoming English champions by not sparing points against opponents. And so they did for two consecutive years. Before the season, many of us even hung medals around the necks of Londoners without a fight. New signings - such as Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Ballack, Khalid Boulahrouz, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel, and the later acquisition Ashley Cole from the London Arsenal club - frightened opponents not only in England but throughout Europe. However, the expected results have not materialized.
Why is the team struggling, dropping points? What happened to the champions? Perhaps Mourinho himself, or maybe the players, can answer that, but let's look at it through the prism of statistics.
Let's start with defense, which is nothing like what the Blues showed last season. After 22 rounds, the Chelsea club has conceded 17 goals. Comparing to the same period last season, Chelsea players had only conceded 10 goals, and throughout the season - only 22 goals. It is noticeable that in the previous season, the champions did not concede any goals in the closing minutes of matches, from the 76th to the 90th minute. This season, in matches with Middlesbrough, Arsenal, Reading, and Fulham clubs, 5 goals were conceded in total.
Even more interesting is that in four matches, playing without captain John Terry, the team conceded 8 goals, whereas playing with him, they conceded 9 goals in 16 matches.
Last season, the most matches in Chelsea's defense were played by the England national team player John Terry (36), Czech Petr Cech (34), and Frenchman William Gallas (34), now representing the London Arsenal club. This season, the most matches are played by the Portuguese Ricardo Carvalho and England national team members A. Cole and J. Terry. The team's goalkeepers often change, but this is due to injuries. Everyone agrees that P. Cech is the main and very reliable goalkeeper, but injuries force Mourinho to choose backup options Carlo Cudicini and Henrique Hilario. Playing as a Czech goalkeeper, the team conceded 20 goals last season, and this season only 2 goals in 6 matches. In 7 matches, Cudicini pulled the ball from his net three times, and playing 10 times, Portuguese Hilario was beaten 12 times. However, these are just numbers. But when P. Cech returns, it will certainly be harder for Chelsea's opponents.
It can be said that this and last season, Chelsea plays with two different teams in defense. Without a doubt, this is influenced by injuries, disrupted team defense actions. The question arises - maybe it was unnecessary to let go of W. Gallas, Asier Del Horno, Roberto Huth? These are just speculations, but the fact is that Mourinho himself admitted that the team without Cech and Terry cannot defend themselves.
Let's consider how the newcomers in the team, defenders K. Boulahrouz and A. Cole, play. It's not going well for Dutch international K. Boulahrouz, who struggles to secure a starting position in the team and has not yet gained the confidence of the coach. Everyone probably remembers when he was played in a game against Tottenham after a major break, but after his "impressive" 17-minute appearance in defense, he was immediately substituted by the coach. But now, with injuries, there is simply no choice. Looking at the statistics of goals conceded while he's on the field - 6 goals in 10 games, in three matches the team did not concede any goals. As for England national team defender A. Cole, things are simpler. He is a key player whom Mourinho trusts. He is more or less noticeable in all matches, and the coach has no major complaints about him. He has played 17 games, and during his time on the field, the team has conceded 13 goals.
Injuries to defenders, unreliable play, tension, the second-place ranking in the Premier League forced Chelsea to think about strengthening. The team would certainly benefit from another experienced center-back, such as Argentine Roberto Ayala from Valencia.
It can be concluded that the champions do not play to their full potential defensively. In every match, Chelsea's opponents have multiple opportunities to score. Injuries, new players, pressure make their mark. Last season, the team's players avoided serious injuries. At present, the team's defense is much easier to penetrate, which is more evident. Based on the goals conceded, Mourinho's team ranks third, behind Liverpool and Manchester United.
Looking at the London team's attack, the most productive players are obviously led by D. Drogba, who has already scored 13 times and leads the entire Premier League. The Ivory Coast national team leader has improved on last season's performance by scoring 12 goals. The striker uses his chances commendably: D. Drogba has attempted 28 shots, of which 13 have turned into goals. A great result. It is no wonder that the coach from Portugal praises this player. However, the attacker lacks support from his teammates.
The second most productive player in Chelsea's team is midfielder F. Lampard. This season, he has scored 5 times and is not as noticeable as in previous years. Last season, the England national team midfielder was unstoppable, scoring 16 goals. This season, Lampard has taken 44 shots, but only 5 have been converted into goals.
Injuries also hinder Arjen Robben, who last season scored 6 goals for the Netherlands national team. This season, he has scored only one goal. Joe Cole, plagued by injuries, has not been very prominent in these competitions. The team misses this creative midfielder, as he scored 7 goals last season.
The signings made before the season to strengthen the attack have not been as productive as desired.
Ukrainian national team star A. Shevchenko was expected to be a nightmare for rivals and undoubtedly replace the departed Argentinean Hernan Crespo, who scored 10 goals last season. However, the Ukrainian has so far only scored 3 goals, with 24 shots on target. It should be remembered that in the previous Italian championship, the Ukrainian scored 19 times for AC Milan. It is evident that the Ukrainian is struggling to find his place on the field, as if not fitting into Mourinho's schemes or the British style of football.
Another star, no less prominent than the Ukrainian, is Michael Ballack. The captain and leader of the German national team, who has also scored 3 times. It may not be expected that this midfielder with many titles to his name would score numerous goals, but representing his country or former clubs, he has always been one of the most productive players.
Another attacking player whom Chelsea fans and Mourinho hoped for more from is the forward Salomon Kalou, who has not scored once in the Premier League. In his previous two seasons playing for Rotterdam's Feyenoord, the talented forward scored 35 times in 67 appearances.
Promising player J. Obi Mikel appears on the field rarely and mostly as a substitute, having spent more than 200 minutes on the field and not yet scoring in the Premier League.
Overall, the Chelsea team has scored 37 times in the league. Compared to the same period last year when the team scored 48 goals, and 72 throughout the season. Clearly, their main rivals, Manchester United players, are ahead in scoring with 49 goals, having only conceded 15 goals. The ratio of goals scored and conceded is much better for the Red Devils. But the attack is certainly not the team's main problem.
In the entire league, Chelsea ranks third in terms of goals scored per match (1.7), trailing Arsenal (1.9) and Manchester United (2.2).
Looking at the statistics, it must be said that Chelsea had a modest start in the Premier League. Comparing to the previous season. There is a saying: "a good start - half the job done." That's how it used to be. From the first day of the league last year, the London club demonstrated its power and superiority. But this year is the opposite.
Last season, the champions stumbled for the first time only in the 10th round, drawing 1-1 with Everton. This season, Mourinho's students lost three points in the second round with a 1-2 defeat to Middlesbrough. In the 7th round, they drew 1-1 with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. It is worth noting that last season, the Londoners played only one draw at their home ground, but this year already four times. To defend the title, you cannot afford to drop points even away, let alone at home.
The relatively weak start this season gave hope to all teams, although hardly anyone could have thought so before the start of the championship. Almost all English clubs now play thinking, well, if not about winning, then at least about draws. Last year it was a great achievement to lose to the Blues by just one goal and walk out of the field without lowering your head. However, this year, the rivals successfully fight, repel attacks, and skillfully counterattack.
It can be stated that injuries, incompatible new signings, a twist of fate, tension, pressure, and the generally strengthened Premier League do not allow the London club to dominate and secure the top spot on the league table. However, looking at the statistics, it can be seen that Chelsea's attack is not the team's weakness: the team creates opportunities, has enormous potential in attack, but the worst scenario for the team is when Hilario guards the goal, and team captain J. Terry is not playing.
With 16 rounds left, Chelsea is 6 points behind Manchester United. When there are still so many matches to go, that's neither a lot nor a little, considering Mourinho's charismatic, unpredictable spirit and his players' fighting spirit, we look forward to a very intriguing, interesting, and hot finish to the season. Maybe we will have a new champion? Nonetheless, for us, the fans of the most wonderful sport in the world, it will be even more interesting.
