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Chelsea Comment: Winning Mentality Forged Out Of Near Misses
Doubters have made Blues' squad determined to succeed...
01-Dec-2009 7:28:38 PM
On Sunday at the Emirates Stadium, the chasm between Chelsea and Arsenal was clear for all to see.
The away side dominated proceedings, terminating the home side’s attacking efforts before they could really threaten Petr Cech, and picking apart the Gunners’ clearly unsettled backline with surprising ease as they romped to a 3-0 win.
After the game, much was made of how it had been ‘men against boys’ — a reference to the physical and athletic superiority of Carlo Ancelotti’s side. But it was an equally apt description of the comparative mental strength and maturity of both sides.
Chelsea’s players are as determined a squad as currently exists in world football. Doubts have been cast over their long-term prospects for many years, with the lack of a hugely sought-after Champions League success used as another source of criticism.
With many important players in the squad around they mythical 30-year-old age barrier, many have wondered publicly how long the current squad has at the very highest level.
Even last summer, as Luiz Felipe Scolari was just settling into his seat at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was passing judgment on the squad the Brazilian was inheriting.
“Chelsea have a lot of experience and that was the one thing I was a bit concerned about last season, but I don't know how far that team has got to go. It's hard to see where there's going to be a big improvement with a team that's really very experienced," Ferguson said, confident after his side had grabbed two successive league titles.
"'Plateau' is maybe not the word, but how can they accelerate beyond what they've done up to now? When you see the ages they've got, apart from Salomon Kalou [then 22] and Mikel John Obi [then 21], they are an experienced side.
Seeing red | Memories of last season is motivation
“I'm not saying necessarily that they're old because, with the modern-day training methods, you should be playing in your thirties. What I am saying is that I don't see outstanding progress in a team that's in their thirties.”
Whether or not the Chelsea players believed the Scot’s comments, it is a sentiment that has been echoed consistently in the media ever since.
The feeling has long been that the Blues' elder statesmen — Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka — will hit the wall soon enough, and FIFA’s transfer ban only added to the consensus that the Blues' time as a major force was almost up.
Potentially unable to buy players for 18 months, few believed the club would make it to the other side of the embargo still genuine trophy challengers.
This season, then, the Blues squad have set about proving everyone wrong. Encouraged by the impressive run they went on under Guus Hiddink at the end of the 2008-09 season, and the unlucky nature of their Champions League elimination to the in-form side of world football, they came into the new campaign with the inner conviction that they were good enough to beat anyone.
Vital | Chelsea proved themselves against United
The away side dominated proceedings, terminating the home side’s attacking efforts before they could really threaten Petr Cech, and picking apart the Gunners’ clearly unsettled backline with surprising ease as they romped to a 3-0 win.
After the game, much was made of how it had been ‘men against boys’ — a reference to the physical and athletic superiority of Carlo Ancelotti’s side. But it was an equally apt description of the comparative mental strength and maturity of both sides.
Chelsea’s players are as determined a squad as currently exists in world football. Doubts have been cast over their long-term prospects for many years, with the lack of a hugely sought-after Champions League success used as another source of criticism.
With many important players in the squad around they mythical 30-year-old age barrier, many have wondered publicly how long the current squad has at the very highest level.
Even last summer, as Luiz Felipe Scolari was just settling into his seat at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was passing judgment on the squad the Brazilian was inheriting.
“Chelsea have a lot of experience and that was the one thing I was a bit concerned about last season, but I don't know how far that team has got to go. It's hard to see where there's going to be a big improvement with a team that's really very experienced," Ferguson said, confident after his side had grabbed two successive league titles.
"'Plateau' is maybe not the word, but how can they accelerate beyond what they've done up to now? When you see the ages they've got, apart from Salomon Kalou [then 22] and Mikel John Obi [then 21], they are an experienced side.
Seeing red | Memories of last season is motivation
“I'm not saying necessarily that they're old because, with the modern-day training methods, you should be playing in your thirties. What I am saying is that I don't see outstanding progress in a team that's in their thirties.”
Whether or not the Chelsea players believed the Scot’s comments, it is a sentiment that has been echoed consistently in the media ever since.
The feeling has long been that the Blues' elder statesmen — Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka — will hit the wall soon enough, and FIFA’s transfer ban only added to the consensus that the Blues' time as a major force was almost up.
Potentially unable to buy players for 18 months, few believed the club would make it to the other side of the embargo still genuine trophy challengers.
This season, then, the Blues squad have set about proving everyone wrong. Encouraged by the impressive run they went on under Guus Hiddink at the end of the 2008-09 season, and the unlucky nature of their Champions League elimination to the in-form side of world football, they came into the new campaign with the inner conviction that they were good enough to beat anyone.
That has been the mentality continued under Ancelotti. With the announcement of the FIFA ban and subsequent headlines, it only gave the squad an even greater drive to make this season a memorable one.
After all, after three years without a league triumph and still no Champions League trophy, there is also a sentiment around the club that the squad has somewhat underachieved in recent times. That is a situation all want to rectify.
The side overcame deficits to win in three of their first five games, a signal of their determination to succeed. As wobbles occurred against both Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, crisis meetings were held immediately to iron out the team’s shortcomings before they became a real weakness.
"We have no problem criticising each other in the dressing room," Ballack said after defeat at Villa Park.
"A good team and strong players must do this and we have.
"I think I have to do this, not just because of my age. I have a few years behind me and I have been through a few situations.
"I have to speak to help the team but not just me, everyone has to take responsibility."
And the players have certainly taken full responsibility in the big games against the big teams so far this season, showing they simply want it more than their rivals.
They comfortably saw off Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, and showed great mental strength to come up with a win against Manchester United, despite arguably losing the tactical battle.
After all, after three years without a league triumph and still no Champions League trophy, there is also a sentiment around the club that the squad has somewhat underachieved in recent times. That is a situation all want to rectify.
The side overcame deficits to win in three of their first five games, a signal of their determination to succeed. As wobbles occurred against both Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, crisis meetings were held immediately to iron out the team’s shortcomings before they became a real weakness.
"We have no problem criticising each other in the dressing room," Ballack said after defeat at Villa Park.
"A good team and strong players must do this and we have.
"I think I have to do this, not just because of my age. I have a few years behind me and I have been through a few situations.
"I have to speak to help the team but not just me, everyone has to take responsibility."
And the players have certainly taken full responsibility in the big games against the big teams so far this season, showing they simply want it more than their rivals.
They comfortably saw off Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, and showed great mental strength to come up with a win against Manchester United, despite arguably losing the tactical battle.
Vital | Chelsea proved themselves against United
The weekend's win further cemented their position. Now comfortably atop the league, in the press the manager — Ancelotti said after the Arsenal win, “I believe we will win the league” — and his players are bullish about their chances.
"I think we have the team to stay ahead of all the others," Didier Drogba said.
"Yes, it's not enough to be five points clear. It's a good gap but we have to keep winning our games. But you know when you're top of the league it's good because you only concentrate on yourself.
"There's no teams on top of you. They have to chase you, they have to produce more and have to do more to win games. So it's good for us."
After a couple of years of underachievement, clearly Chelsea's players are determined to make this season one to remember.
Alex Dimond, Goal.com UK
"I think we have the team to stay ahead of all the others," Didier Drogba said.
"Yes, it's not enough to be five points clear. It's a good gap but we have to keep winning our games. But you know when you're top of the league it's good because you only concentrate on yourself.
"There's no teams on top of you. They have to chase you, they have to produce more and have to do more to win games. So it's good for us."
After a couple of years of underachievement, clearly Chelsea's players are determined to make this season one to remember.
Alex Dimond, Goal.com UK
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