Chelsea vs Burnley: The one that only nine survived

My face most of this week

If things aren’t going to go right, they might as well go spectacularly wrong. And Chelsea’s start to the campaign to defend their title was very much the latter. And while the doom and gloom mongers might not want anyone to know, I’m here to share a little secret — there’s still actually another 37 matches before the Premier League season is done and dusted. So there might just be hope for those plucky little upstarts yet.

So just how did Chelsea end up on the wrong side of a 3-0 scoreline just 45 minutes into their new season? There were a few factors before anyone even kicked a ball that they were forced to overcome. 

First — the jinx. Antonio Conte invoking the term ‘a Jose Mourinho season’ about the potential for Chelsea to fall flat on their faces in their title defence. It almost guaranteed there would be a wobble at the start of the season. Who’s ever said something like that and it not come back to bite them, even just a little. I’m all for comedic petulant barbs in press conferences to spice them up but that was just asking for a world of karmic trouble.

Second — the tracksuit. What is the Don doing in a tracksuit on the opening day of the season? I thought it was the wrong choice at the Community Shield and that’s a glorified friendly. Why wear a suit for virtually your entire managerial career and then rock up to the difficult second season in something that shouldn’t be seen outside the training ground. The air of authority is completely undermined. One should never find themselves out dressed by Sean Dyche.

Third — Chelsea were without their two best players from the title run last season. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were absolutely key in that brilliant run of 13 consecutive wins. And while there appears no way back for Diego Costa at this stage *sigh*, Hazard should return in the next few weeks as he’s finally back in full training. And he is very much the man who can turn a game all on his own. But those little legs may just need a game or two to get back into the swing of things.

Live scenes of Antonio Conte on the touchline

Between injuries, suspensions and exiles it was difficult to anticipate just what Chelsea’s starting XI for Burnley was going to be. When the team sheet dropped, the only real (and pleasant) surprise was Jeremie Boga getting a start. What a brilliant opportunity it was for him to show they he  could slot into the first team. Or it would have been had Gary Cahill not seen fit to temporarily lose his head. As abysmal as Craig Pawson was on Saturday - it was a naughty challenge from the captain and he probably deserved that card. Unfortunately it was the end of Boga’s game. And pretty much the end of any sense whatsoever. 

It’s safe to say that Chelsea’s players did not deal well with the surprise sending off. Everyone lost their heads over the next half hour and gave away those three goals. Pawson was ridiculously quick with a card for Chelsea and not so much with the Burnley players. The atmosphere became toxic - directed at the referee and his assistants NOT the players as some papers would have you believe. Which impacted the players mentality. They ran on emotion for the rest of that half and paid the price for it.

A solid team talk for the remaining 10 men from the fourth member of the Beastie Boys seems to have settled the players and they got back into with new boy Alvaro Morata scoring on his Premier League debut. He has previously scored on both his La Liga and Serie A debut as well. A man for the occasion. Of course it wasn’t all smooth sailing, Cesc Fabregas joined Gary Cahill down the tunnel after a solid little challenge himself. As a fan of sarcasm myself, I kind of enjoyed that Fabregas was sent off in part because of ironic applause.

They say that it’s the hope that kills. And it was no more true than Saturday. I was bemused at three-nil down. But once David Luiz clawed Chelsea back to within a goal of a point - anxiety went through the roof! It was great to see the fight back from nine men. Especially against a team that is so undervalued in its defensive organisation. They boast one of the best goalkeepers around. But that third goal never came. Pawson relished peeping his whistle at the end. And was sent off the pitch with the vitriol he fully deserved.

Just to repeat for those who clearly missed it — all that booing was squarely directed at Pawson and co. Chelsea’s players may have stumbled, but they fought back and showed some passion. Which is all that footballer supporters really ask for. A little fight. A little spirit. And sometimes you just need a little luck - or a better referee for the points to go a different way.

This weekend should be fun. Tottenham away - but who’s going to play?! Could Jeremie Boga get another 15 minutes of first half action?

Roll on the weekend. Keep those fingers crossed for the return of technical area Dolce & Gahanna.

jb xx