Chelsea have been simply formidable in their opening two games of the 2010-11 season. The significance of the mauling of Wigan at the DW, the very stadium in which their superb start to last season began to disintegrate after a 3-1 loss in September, must have Chelsea’s title rivals quaking in their lightweight boots. It is possible that they may fall apart again for a period in this season as they did under Luis Scolari two years ago and Carlo Ancelotti last term, but after such a confident start to the season – an unprecedented pair of 6-0 victories – it is hard to see how and why such a U-turn might occur. But where there is a will there is a way:
One sign of hope that Manchester United, Arsenal et al have is that the loss of Ricardo Carvalho may start to show as the season wears on. Without the Portuguese’s calm head and organisational experience last season John Terry and Petr Cech suffered marked losses of confidence. Alex is a strong, powerful presence at the back but his game is similar to that of Terry’s, and so the pair do not complement each other with the combination of brain and brawn that has proved to be so effective with great central defensive partnerships. The best of the rest must hope nothing will come of rumours circulating today that Chelsea have offered £40 million for Sergio Ramos.
When Manchester United outplayed Chelsea in the Charity Shield at the start of August, few could have imagined the Blues could reverse this performance so devastatingly in such a short period of time. Last season saw a change in the opposite direction; from the sublime to the profligate with a corresponding lack of plausible explanation, so there is always a chance that the pendulum could swing back again should one bad result undermine the confidence of Ancelotti’s players. The team to begin this erosion could logically be United. A glance at Chelsea’s fixtures shows a run of tough fixtures in the league in December that could start the rot should Chelsea take their eye off the ball – Everton (home, 4th), Spurs (away, 11th), Manchester United (home 18th), Arsenal (away, 26th). These games could well shape Chelsea’s season.
Last season Chelsea demonstrated that their squad has a greater depth than that of Manchester United in one certain position, and this ultimately won them the title. When Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba were both injured late in the season, Nicolas Anelka proved to be a better stand-in central striker than did Dimitar Berbatov, and whereas United’s goals dried up Anelka and Chelsea kept on scoring. This season United should fare better should a similar situation arise; Sir Alex Ferguson addressed this shortcoming with the signings of Xavier Hernandez and Bebe, and he now also has Michael Owen fit, for what that is worth.
However, it is in the goalkeeping position that Chelsea are vulnerable. Now Ben Foster has gone, having been pushed out of the number two position by the ever-improving Tomasz Kuszczak, United have two solid ‘keepers. Chelsea, meanwhile, will be suspect at the back should Cech lose confidence or fitness. His understudies, Hilario and Ross Turnbull, are simply not good enough for a team aiming to retain the title.
After round one of the Premier League season the race between Manchester United and Chelsea, who between them have won the last six titles, resembles the slugfest of Rocky IV. The powerful, youthful Russian grows in strength; his punches shattering all-comers. Meanwhile the ageing American, though his punches find still their target, lacks the stamina and power he once had, and suffers costly early blows. But as when Rocky Balboa eventually starts to land punches on Ivan Drago: “He does cut! He’s not a machine!” Sir Alex Ferguson and his fellow managers can only hope that life imitates art in the title race this season.
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