UCL:Exit exposes Chelsea's limitations

01 May 2014 14:30:21
Chelsea's supposed
tenderness has been used as
a smokescreen by manager
Jose Mourinho this season,
but their Champions League
elimination by Atletico Madrid proved they
remain a work in progress.
The claim that Chelsea are not yet ready to
challenge for major honours has at times
provided a convenient excuse for Mourinho,
who is fond of depicting his lavishly
assembled squad as a group of eager
novices.
Wednesday's 3-1 semifinal loss revealed
real shortcomings though, and while Chelsea
were made to pay for some costly defensive
errors, Mourinho's tactical approach was, for
once, not beyond reproach either.
The Portuguese had been lauded, if
begrudgingly, after masterminding a counter-
attacking 2-0 win at Liverpool last Sunday,
but against Atletico Chelsea needed to take
the initiative, and they struggled.
With the score 1-1 at halftime and Atletico
ahead on away goals, the onus was on
Chelsea to attack in the second half, but
instead it was the visitors who made the
early running.
Mark Schwarzer had to save from Arda
Turan and Tiago Mendes, and although John
Terry then forced Thibaut Courtois into a fine
save at the other end, Diego Costa's 60th-
minute penalty effectively ended the tie.
"Chelsea needed to score," said Atletico
coach Diego Simeone.
"We knew they'd probably bring on another
striker, which allowed us to bring in five
midfielders. It left us a lot more space to
control the game."
While Chelsea possess plenty of talented
attackers, they have been schooled almost
exclusively in the art of the counter-attack,
and when the circumstances demanded an
onslaught, they seemed to freeze.
"Chelsea aren't made for playing football, but
for playing on the counter-attack, like Real
Madrid did against Bayern Munich," winger
Eden Hazard told French broadcaster beIN
Sports.
"It's pretty much our tactic that works the
best."
Chelsea were also the architects of their own
downfall in defence, where errors played a
part in all three Atletico goals.
The Spaniards' equaliser came after Ashley
Cole allowed Juanfran to ghost into space
behind him before dispatching a volleyed
cross that Adrian Lopez converted.
Costa won the penalty after a clumsy swipe
by Samuel Eto'o and for the third goal, Cesar
Azpilicueta lost sight of Juanfran, who
crossed for Turan to score at the second
attempt.
Surprisingly deployed in a right-wing role,
Azpilicueta had created Fernando Torres's
36th-minute opener, but it proved a rare
tactical success on the night for Mourinho.
Chelsea's deficiencies in the striking
department – a frequent Mourinho bugbear –
were also apparent, with the hosts mustering
only five shots on target to Atletico's eight.
While Torres was rewarded for an industrious
performance with a goal, Mourinho's three
strikers – Torres, Eto'o and Demba Ba –
have between them amassed six fewer goals
this season (30) than Costa (36).
Unable to ignore the gulf between the two
teams, Mourinho was unusually gracious in
defeat, describing Atletico as "a very, very
good side" and "a real team".
With Terry, Hazard and Eto'o only half-fit,
goalkeeper Petr Cech injured, Frank Lampard
and John Mikel Obi suspended, and Nemanja
Matic and Mohamed Salah cup-tied, this was
also a far from full-strength Chelsea.
"I can't be critical of a group of players who
are trying everything," Mourinho said.
"We have problems with injuries,
suspensions and players who can't play in
the Champions League. It's disappointing to
lose, but I am proud of them."
Chelsea are two points behind Liverpool in
the Premier League with two matches to
play, so silverware looks destined to elude
Mourinho, but he will draw encouragement
from the first season of his second coming at
Stamford Bridge.
Having come so close to delivering a famous
trophy double, he will now expect to be
backed in the close-season transfer window.
Costa is rumoured to be among his targets,
but whoever arrives, next season's Chelsea
are likely to be a much less forgiving beast.