Chelsea continue their rise with 4-0 win over Manchester United

Chelsea exceeded anyone’s expectations with a 4-0 dismantling of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United. If Chelsea had any doubters before they match, surely they have none now.

Old and busted: Red Monday. New hotness: Blue Sunday.

Jose Mourinho never had a chance to park the bus against his former club. Pedro scored the fastest goal in the Premier League this season, putting Chelsea in front 38 (or so) seconds into the match. Long before N’Golo Kante (!) moved through Manchester United’s defence (!!) to score (!!!) Chelsea’s fourth (!!!!), Antonio Conte had proved himself the better manager.

Chelsea’s starting XI had nearly flawless performances

David Luiz arguably got away with a yellow card for a high, studs-up challenge on Marouane Fellaini. Marcos Alonso lost several one-on-one’s on the left flank. Thibaut Courtois palmed a long shot directly across the face of goal in the first half, giving up a close-in chance.

That is about the bulk of the criticism. That sloppy rebound from Courtois? He followed it up with a reflexive save, and then capped the game off with a soaring save high and to his left.

Even Nemanja Matic earned an assist and showed signs of his 2014/15 self. Matic was a rock alongside Kante. The pair showed how two centre-defensive midfielders in front of a back-three can control the opposition without slowing down their own press. It was the anti-parked bus.

Matic’s fellow embattled Blue, Gary Cahill, commanded the air, ground and captaincy. John Terry now finds himself in the unusual – but at this stage of his career, perhaps welcome – position of coming on for cup ties and filling in for injuries.

If you think Paul Pogba was worth £90 million, I’ve got a bridge to sell you

The world’s most expensive footballer was completely neutered (not neutralized – neutered) by a fellow Frenchman who is barely half is size and cost one-third the money. Without taking any credit away from N’Golo Kante, Pogba alternated between apparent disinterest and reckless disregard for bookings as the match went on.

Pogba made little attempt to break free, open up play or otherwise get a handle on the game. His non-factor performance was reminiscent of some Chelsea games last season where Eden Hazard drifted in and out of consciousness.

Compared to Chelsea’s full-pitch, full-squad performance, Pogba exemplified United’s apathy and lack of creativity. That makes Manchester United the 2016/17 version of Chelsea’s 2015/16 season. Whatever could the two sides have in common….?

What is going on with Jose Mourinho?

We were all set to focus our analysis on the players, particularly the men in Blue. But after the final whistle, when the two managers shook hands, Mourinho went full Mourinho and barked in Antonio Conte’s ear much longer and much more acrimoniously than a simple exchange of pleasantries.

First, let’s acknowledge that at least Mourinho did not walk down the tunnel a minute or two before full time. Baby steps. Golf clap.

Really, Jose? Lecturing another manager on celebrating, sportsmanship or crowd management and interactions?

Set aside the hypocrisy. We enjoyed it when Mourinho did it for Chelsea. Just think of the sheer condescension, pique and gall it takes to lecture a peer – let alone one with Conte’s resume – on such matters.

Being a Premier League manager has to be one of the most stressful jobs out there. At least among jobs that do not involve actual physical danger. Part of the job is handling the stress, the banter, the hot takes and the rest. On and off the pitch, Mourinho is showing signs of not being at that level any more.

Antonio Conte’s quiet revolution about to get noticed

Back to the Blue stuff. In any other year, Antonio Conte’s arrival in the Premier League would have been big news. Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mourinho all overshadowed Conte in the pre-season predictions and banter-fests.

Guardiola earned all the headlines in the early stages of the season as Manchester City taught the Premier League all about Pep-ness. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s early games were respectable but nothing spectacular. If anything, Chelsea’s back-to-back Premier League losses earned more coverage than the wins.

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Chelsea have won their last three Premier League matches by a combined score of 9-0 since switching to the 3-4-3. Their opponents have gotten progressively more difficult, yet the margin of victory has increased in each game.

Nine games in to the Premier League season, Chelsea are ascendant. Manchester City are not only flattening out but perhaps hitting their first panic switch. Reports on Twitter earlier today said that Guardiola locked his squad in the training room for nearly an hour after their draw against Southampton.

Chelsea now sit in fourth place with 19 points. Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal are separated only by goal differential, with 20 points.

Conte’s tactics, training and man-management flew under the radar for the last few months. Now he has Chelsea playing a new style of football and is achieving the results to prove his methods. He is now the man to beat, emulate and out-think. About time.