Chelsea vs Manchester United: The One with a Last Minute Equaliser (again)

Queing for Mata hugs - who could blame them?

It’s possible that Chelsea’s beloved Guus Hiddink could be using the team to bolster his CV after his failed stints as the Netherlands and Turkey’s head coach. He’s once again swanned in and taken a losing side to an unbeaten side. Opting for DM squared week in and week out, Hiddink is setting up the team to not lose. And while it’s 'worked' insofar as he can say Chelsea remain unbeaten under him, they haven’t really progressed, have they?

When Hiddink took over from Steve Holland JoMo 2.0, Chelsea sat 15th in the Premier League. Overseeing an unbeaten run of SEVEN matches, Hiddink’s side have reached the lofty heights of … wait for it …. wait ….. 13th. Seven matches without a loss and Chelsea have moved up 2 places on the league table. While the teams just ahead of the Blues have done their part to help the cause — Crystal Palace winning themselves 1 whole point this calendar year - Chelsea still have not had a look in at the top 10.

While having the longest current unbeaten run in the league may sound good when a certain someone is looking for their next pay cheque - it’s not made great viewing for the supporters. And it’s not re-invigorating the team with a winning mentality. Something they'll need if they're to push on in the Champions League FA Cup. While many of the players are showing signs of their former selves returning, the stifling formation is doing no one any favours. I’ll repeat this every week until he learns, out with the M&M pairing. It's broke. Fix it. You’ll get another gig Guus, maybe an even better one if you try and win a match here and there.

Hiddink isn’t the only one planning for his future - a certain captain, leader, legend is also busy making summer plans. And while ‘point to prove’ Terry often becomes an even more effective defender, Sunday’s match against Manchester United hinted at a less functional / more rogue version.

John Terry likes to be a hero. It’s why he’s not only happy to take on the responsibilities of being club or country captain but thrives on the title. And the perceived glory that he associates with it. It's what drives him and makes him such an effective leader. Players respond to his self belief.

However, his need to be a hero and prove why he is deserving of another contract appeared to be a hindrance more than a help on this occasion. Throughout the match, Terry was often in the box — and not the one he should have been in. He looked desperate to score against United. He wasn't choosing the optimal moments for a central defender to be poncing around in the opposition’s box. And let’s be honest, we all know he’s not going to be that quick getting back. There was a moment when he and Cahill were both up trying to score leaving noted defensive devotee Cesc Fàbregas on his own at the back.

John Terry should get a contract next season. Chelsea need a big personality and leader in that dressing room. But he needs to stop talking about it, stop trying to do Diego Costa’s job and do what he does best. Lead by example - from the back. Terry needs to stop focusing on himself, and remind the board that he’s not just a key member but the leader of this team. And the club need him not for his own personal achievements but his ability to make those around him better.

What could force the issue a little sooner than the club would have liked is the horrific injury Kurt Zouma suffered. He hyperextended his knee as he fell awkwardly on it which lead to sounds that I won’t even begin to describe. If you can stomach it, there’s clips floating about. He was stretchered off the pitch in the 59th minute  and had to wait until Monday for a scan. With the way Chelsea’s season has gone, you know the news was bad. His impending ACL surgery means that not only will he miss the rest of Chelsea's season, but the big man will miss his opportunity to play in the Euros in his home country. I, of course, will miss him slide tackling the life out of anyone that crosses his path, often the most entertaining moment of many a match this season. Get well soon Zoom Zoom.

We all know the match got infinitely better (for Chelsea) when Eden Hazard came on, so there’s no point in waxing lyrical about that. Whatever you think of his performances this season, Chelsea look so much better with him on the pitch than on the bench. They attack with purpose and he usually attracts at least 3 or 4 suitors by the time he gets anywhere near the 18 yard box. Who could blame them?! With all of their love and affection focused on the little Belgian, other players are freed up and may even sneak in a shot.

Costa couture at its finest

It’s difficult to say whether the last minute goal to get Hiddink’s beloved point or Costa’s goal celebration for it was better. Forget all this ‘dab’ celebration business - that was a furious, impassioned goal celebration, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. A sidenote on Costa couture - while there was again a double glove disappearing act - there is a direction correlation to his appearance and his goal scoring ability. The more of a mess he looks as a human being, the more likely he is to score. He started the season looking like he was auditioning for a slightly portly boy band - clean shaven, tidy hair. No goals. But with his shorts hanging off and a sock down to his ankles, he found the net in his very first appearance against Manchester United on Sunday.

One final note on my favourite player to start yesterday’s game — Juan Mata. That little bearded beauty showed his class during and after the match again. He can’t even help it - he embodies class. The first of United’s 597 corners had him come over with Daley Blind to a warm round of applause. Which created a hilarious and jarring contrast to the reception Blind received when he actually took the corner. Blind was immediately showered with abuse - which he then got for each subsequent corner. Similarly Mata was clapped off like he was still one of Chelsea's own. Herrera received as warm a reception as Blind for those corners. And then after the match, Mata only stayed behind to hug each and every Chelsea player off the pitch — even the ones he never played with. He remains the Special Juan and can come back to Chelsea anytime.

jb xx