The World Cup and the short preseason made everything difficult for everyone. Now Chelsea and Maurizio Sarri’s results can have true weight.
There is a sense that Chelsea was behind the eight ball when the season started. Antonio Conte was still manager when preseason began and Maurizio Sarri only arrived well after preparations had started. The World Cup meant that a large part of the team was gone. And with the transfer window closing before the season began, it was imperative to put everything together before the first match.
But Chelsea was not alone in these circumstances. Every Premier League club, from top to bottom, faced similar trials and tribulations. Others had new managers and tactics to learn. Everyone else had to struggle to find fitness with so many still playing. To put it quite simply, everyone was in the same boat trying to plug the holes before they set off.
With everyone being so unprepared, anything could have happened in the first four matches before the international break. Even the match after had a lot of question marks. So it was incredibly silly to see grand, sweeping proclamations about the early season. But now, with clubs bedded in, the matches start to carry weight.
Players at every club, including the latest World Cup returning players, should be fully fit and ready to play. Tactically, even players who returned on the eve of the season should be versed enough in their team’s philosophy to make things happen. That simply was not the case before the break.
So do not look at Watford’s record and believe they are fighting for top four. Do not look at West Ham’s record and assume they are going down. And definitely do not look at Liverpool and Chelsea’s record with the belief that it is “their title to lose”.
This is not to say the points in those opening matches do not matter. Every point matters. But just because a team won their first four does not mean that they are ready to win their next four. With everyone now ready for the season, now the results of matches can be used to make sweeping statements.
Furthermore, Chelsea is in a fantastic position because they won those first four (now five) matches. Does it mean the club is a title contender? Not yet no. But it is much better to be in Chelsea’s position (new manager and learning new tactics while winning) than in Arsenal’s or West Ham’s (new manager and learning new tactics while losing or struggling).
Sarrismo is not in full effect yet and the performances in the opening salvo of matches should be taken with a hefty pinch of salt. What is more revealing is how much improvement there was from match one (against Huddersfield) to match five (against Cardiff). The Blues are clicking along and may just beat Sarri’s self imposed two month mark.
The upcoming matches against Liverpool and Manchester United will show where Chelsea is at this season. By the end of October, fans will have a clear picture of how the Blues stack up. So far, they have stacked up well, but now it is time to see how they hold up against tactically integrated fit teams.