Gary Cahill put Chelsea’s remaining opponents on notice that aggressive fouling and hackish play will not slow down the Blues’ march towards a domestic double.
Chelsea’s last two opponents played a similar game plan, and walked away with a similar outcome. The Blues defeated Manchester United 2-1 and Stoke City 1-0. In each game, the opposition finished the game with 10 men on the pitch while Chelsea saw out the victory.
Both opponents could easily have finished the game with even fewer players. United and Stoke both targeted Chelsea’s star player on the pitch. Jose Mourinho gambled that he could intimidate Eden Hazard out of the game with persistent and heavy fouls. He tasked his Red Devils with taking out Eden Hazard mentally, if not physically. Instead, Ander Herrera took himself out of the game with the most ignorant second yellow in recent memory.
Stoke attempted the same non-strategy, this time with Diego Costa in the cross-hairs. Costa nearly played into their hands. He came far too close to a second yellow himself for retaliation, dissent or simulation (your choice).
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But Chelsea prevailed over both, and captain-in-waiting Gary Cahill says this sent an important message to the rest of the Premier League.
"We have played better this season than we did in those two games but we managed both those situations well and got the job done at a crucial time of the season. We are pleased. Teams have tried to play in different ways and systems against us but we have coped with it really well. – Evening Standard"
Cahill points to Chelsea’s discipline and adaptability as being the key to Chelsea’s success not just in those games, but across the season. Antonio Conte has instilled in the team the importance of discipline and staying together as a team. This combination of attributes keeps the Blues fighting for and defending each other, while ensuring they do not do anything that will compromise the team.
"It’s a case of adapting to different situations… We could have got into a scrap with them but they would have been the ones to benefit. It’s just about managing the situations and still playing our football."
Chelsea have 10 Premier League games remaining and at least one FA Cup tie. The Blues visit Old Trafford on 16 October. If and how Mourinho alters his hack-a-Hazard tactics will be apparent in the opening minutes of the game. United cannot afford to drop points as they claw themselves towards Champions League qualification. Seeing how thoroughly his plans back-fired in the FA Cup, he may need to actually play football that day.
Chelsea’s will likely not experience such blatant provocation from any of their remaining opponents, save perhaps for Watford. The upcoming opponents have too much to gain (a top four or top six finish) or lose (relegation) to risk a red card that will seal their fate.
Southampton and Bournemouth are Chelsea’s mid-table opponents (10th and 11th, respectively). Neither team has a tendency to play a foul-intensive style of game.
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As Gary Cahill noted, Chelsea have demonstrated the resilience necessary to challenge for a domestic double. Antonio Conte has built a squad that can play beautiful football in tactical masterclasses and then withstand ugly football on a cold, rainy day in Stoke.