It’s hard not to be distracted by the World Cup during a summer in which even the English national team for once appears to be handling itself better than Chelsea.
NB: This is Barrett Rouen’s weekly column, entitled “Tactics and Transfers.” The column may not actually include any discussions of Chelsea’s tactics and / or transfers. It often does, but no promises. Proceed accordingly.
We can think about England’s crushing win over Panama in a couple of ways. First, England are a better side than Panama and should be winning. England’s depth of talent against a much weaker Panama side should certainly produce a game like that.
Second, AS SOON AS ENGLAND START RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK THEY WIN A MATCH 6-1 AND USUALLY UNDERPERFORM AGAINST SMALL SIDES SO STUFF IT IF YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY HA! 6-1 CHEEKY CHEEK YOU CHEEKY CHEEK!
With that out of the way, we know one thing. Even England are handling themselves better than Chelsea at the moment. Under the astute leadership of Gareth Southgate, to whom people were not initially warm, England have managed to think their way around their issues. They have built a team high on character and heart, though lacking the straightforward talent of some of their competition.
That sounds like something that would be ideal for another classically English footballing entity. Something very similar to Chelsea Football Club, in fact!
Chelsea lack more than just talent. Obviously Manchester City, United and Liverpool are more talented sides than Chelsea. The Blues have Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante, but after those two the drop is so deep it may as well be the Marianas Trench. Where Chelsea used to make up for a lack of talent – even so recently as last year – was team spirit. This current group lacks spirit so much that even discussing it sucks some of the air out of this writer’s room.
Where Gareth Southgate has called on Royal Marines to lend perspective and sports psychologists to strengthen an English team traditionally known for their mental weakness, Chelsea make no progress at all year after year. It’s absurd.
Southgate, without even knowing it, distinguishes exactly what makes this England side all that more loveable and this Chelsea side all that more laughable.
"Mental strength, resilience is key to success at the highest level of every top sport. If you look at those at the top, it’s probably the distinguishing feature, because technically, you might get one or two technically exceptional players, but generally, there is little to separate them. Physically, everyone is pretty fit, but the psychological area, in the biggest matches against the biggest teams under pressure, is where the best are able to stand up and perform. It’s definitely key. – SkySports"
England have finally found a manager who seems to have targeted the key weakness in the side. Chelsea are failing at this, too. They have a manager who targeted the issue. But they chose not to recognize it, back him and let him get on with the slow process of doing his work. No, they are embarassing him publicly and dragging the club through the mud in the process.
Chelsea could learn so much from how the FA and Gareth Southgate are making the most of this World Cup. It’s rather insane that they aren’t. All Chelsea need to do is turn on the television or read a newspaper.
The game is more global and expansive than ever before. Yet for some reason, Chelsea seem determined to remain stuck in this destructive cycle of idiosyncratic, inward-facing nonsense time and time again.
Next: Everton loan for Ruben Loftus-Cheek should be a last resort
The sad thing is Chelsea does not seem to be even interested in progress. They would rather continue to shoot themselves in the foot then look to the obvious and inspiring for answers. This is a sad time at Stamford Bridge. At least for the first time in a while, England are a positive.