Five games in to the Premier League season and Chelsea sit fourth with 10 points. Not bad for a team who, according to some, were in crisis after consecutive defeats to Everton and Basel.
In the Premier League, Chelsea have been far from scintillating. After a nothing-short-of sublime opening half against Hull, performances began to dip and the main problems for Mourinho and his squad began to make themselves known. A loss at Goodison Park (by no means an easy place to go) followed by a toothless and disappointing performance as Basel took all three points at Stamford Bridge piled pressure on the self-proclaimed 'Happy One' - some journalists even asking the question "Are Chelsea in Crisis?"
The short answer: no. The long answer: The Project.
It's been a while since we've heard of 'The Project'. In fact, not since Andre Villas-Boas' tenure did we hear about the Project that the club were now ploughing their wealth of resources into. In reality this project is the same as it was back in 2011 - only the man at the helm has changed. Mourinho (and the club, it should be said) wants to change the way Chelsea play. As he said in his post-Fulham interview with Sky the Club's philosophy has to change, and this is no easy feat. It will take time to achieve what Mourinho envisages, but we have seen glimpses - the aforementioned first-half vs Hull and the second half performance against Fulham are both signs of things to come.
So, what can we expect?
Mourinho outlined what he wanted from this new-look Chelsea side. Quick, incisive passing in the final third and a game playing to the strengths on the abundance of technical talent that Chelsea currently possesses. Willian, Oscar, Hazard, De Bruyne and Mata are all fairly similar players, and it's with this in mind that Mourinho wants to base his attacking strategies. This is the part of the game that we, as fans, can see the deficit in - games against Basel and Everton highlight this. But, as mentioned before, we had a glimpse; Torres vs Bayern was a clinical end to high-tempo build up.
The defensive vision is a "high defensive block" and good pressure, winning the ball high up the pitch and starving the opposition of any room to work in. But as we saw vs Fulham and Darren Bent 1-on-1 with Petr Cech, it hasn't quite clicked yet. However, one of the most important parts of Mourinho's defensive game is work rate, and this is where Mata unfortunately fits into this piece.
Mourinho didn't beat around the bush when he stated what he wanted from his wingers in terms of defence. He wants them tracking the opposition fullback, and providing cover for our own. It seems as though it is the defensive contribution that has left Mata out on the sidelines thus far. It appears as though he also sees Mata as a winger, rather than a number ten, having publicly stated that Oscar has his trust in that role. Whether that is right or not is another matter, but as things stand that's the way it lies.
I, like so many other fans don't want to see our two-time Player of the Season out of the team. He's a fan's favourite, a thoroughly nice guy and fantastic footballer, but don't listen to the media stories of unrest and the imminent departure of our number 10. Mourinho also said on Saturday that he wants Oscar and Mata in the same team - it's not either/or. He also said that Mata has to adapt and the problem is not nature, but nurture: the way in which he has grown up playing football meant his defensive game didn't need developing. The next few months will really tell all about Mata and his future. The best outcome? The intense competition inspires Mata to improve his weaknesses and take him to another level of performance. That's what Mourinho wants; for Mata to say that the decision to drop him was wrong, and he is key in the present and future of this young team.
As for now, we have to be patient and believe in that the incredible potential that this team has can be reached. Fans have to play a part as well - boos as were heard at the end of the mid-week defeat to Basel have no purpose for a team who rely on confidence, and it's testing times that fans have to make their support heard.
I'd love to hear your views. Leave a comment or tweet me at @CrunchingCelery
