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| Jose Mourinho's Bad day |
COMMENT: A mini-revival was brought to a juddering
end on Saturday as the Chelsea manager suffered perhaps his most
embarrassing ever loss in a season going from very bad to worse
The champions are marooned in 14th place, now just two points ahead of a Bournemouth side whose victory at Stamford Bridge, perhaps most damningly of all as far as Mourinho is concerned, owed little to luck and dogged perseverance.
Bournemouth were resolute, organised and efficient. Their goalkeeper, Artur Boruc, a liability all season long, was never required to show anything more than basic competence while, at the other end, Thibaut Courtois, making his first appearance since the opening day of the campaign, was not the immediate cure to the defensive woes that have undermined Chelsea this season. Indeed, he was culpable for the winning goal.
Chelsea's pride has been stung this season, their confidence chipped away. Visitors to Stamford Bridge have feasted on the uncertainty but nobody expected this, not least the travelling Bournemouth fans who had seen their side collect just four points on the road this term from seven games and concede 18 goals in the process.
It ranks as one of the biggest upset in Premier League history. It is the first time that the holders of the Championship have won at the home of the top-flight champions and the first time that Chelsea have failed to score on home turf since May 2014.
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| Diego Costa |
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| Jose Mourinho |
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| Bounemouth Celebrates |
Mourinho resisted the temptation to restore Diego Costa to his starting lineup after the touchline histrionics that overshadowed a hard-earned point at White Hart Lane last week and, though it always looked like a questionable decision, it ought not to have proven decisive.
In any case, Costa was introduced at the break and, though his presence sparked Chelsea into life initially, he quickly reverted to type, displaying the characteristics that prompted Mourinho to demote him to the bench in the first place.
Even a serial winner like Mourinho has suffered his fair share of galling defeats. His Real Madrid were taken apart by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in their pomp and Champions League semi-final defeats by Liverpool still sting. Losing to a Sunderland side seemingly destined for relegation cost his little horses their chance of Premier League glory two season ago but there has been nothing like this.
All of Mourinho's best sides - even his average ones - have specialised in hammering the weak, chewing up relegation fodder before moving mercilessly on to their next victims. Despite Chelsea's obvious deficiencies, Bournemouth were expected to go the same way as Norwich City, who were gallant in defeat a fortnight previously.
Instead Chelsea were again struck by a crippling lack of imagination, their superstars caught staring at the stars looking for inspiration as Bournemouth outthought and outmanoeuvred their illustrious opponents.
Chelsea and Mourinho closed ranks during the international break in the hope that a siege mentality could be fostered and out of adversity a measure of triumph could be achieved. It has taken less than three weeks for that approach to have been rendered redundant.
The truth is that this Chelsea side are an average outfit whose day in the sun seems an eon ago. Mourinho is at his lowest ebb and it is hard to see him turning around this sinking ship.
Source: Goal.com