Chelsea FC’s Jose Mourinho: Arsenal Had Nine Players In Front Of The Box
Chelsea FC took on crosstown rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon for the FA Community Shield. A competition that pits the previous season’s Premier League winners against the FA Cup holders, it has developed into the traditional season opener for English football. Jose Mourinho’s men fell 1-0 to the Gunners in what was a tense, if sometimes sloppy, affair.
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Having lost to Arsene Wenger for the first time, the Blues boss continued to fire shots at his longtime nemesis. He managed to praise Arsenal’s tactics yesterday afternoon, while at the same time criticising it.
"My opinion is the team that defends very well, that leaves their philosophy in the dressing room, changes their attitude, plays all the second half with nine players in front of the box, doesn’t concede and scores one goal, from that perspective they deserve to win. – via chelseafc.com"
Last season Chelsea were continuously hounded by the press and rivals alike for the supposed defensive tactics that they employed in the second half of the season. (In reality this was due to a number of hindering factors but we shall not delve into that debate today.) After Arsenal played in a similar style on Sunday, Mourinho was quick to jump on it and reiterate his opinion on the subject, yet simultaneously subtlely take aim at Wenger.
It’s very hard to explain but I think you understand what I mean.
"This is football. This is very good tactical organisation. Congratulations to them."
Sticking with Wenger, Sunday marked the first competitive fixture against him that Mourinho had lost. The boss, though, doesn’t/does care…Classic Jose really…
"Thirteen matches is an eternity. It has never been a question of beating someone and losing to another one."
Thirteen matches is indeed an eternity, and evidently a point that Mourinho wanted to emphasise. However, Chelsea lost because they are simply not where they need to be at the moment and with less than seven days until the start of the Premier League, this is worrying.
The Blues have only been in pre-season training for two weeks, and due to this the level at which they are at currently is understandable. However, there are many fans wondering whether Chelsea should have reconvened at an earlier date (they were one of the last Premier League clubs to return).
However, what is more concerning is the injury status of Diego Costa. The striker hobbled off during the last game of the United States tour holding his hamstring. In the run-up to the Community Shield, Mourinho insisted that all players were available for selection but Costa wasn’t even in the match-day squad, let alone starting.
Having scored 20 goals in 26 league appearances last season, Costa is absolutely key if Chelsea are to win anything this season. This is especially true given the performances of Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao yesterday afternoon. With the former getting caught offside so often that you would have thought he was sitting in the stands, and the latter only showing very minor glimpses of his former self, at this rate Patrick Bamford may be recalled from loan.
Mourinho, rather unconvincingly, stated that he is not concerned.
"Falcao will have had a bit more football, he will play against Fiorentina from the start. We have Remy too, so if we don’t have Diego I am happy with the strikers I have."
Patrick! Pack your bags mate!
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