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Scolari is bewildered and all out of ideas as Blues fall
Simon Johnson12.01.09
Chelsea came within the width of a post from being crowned champions of Europe last May - now they face a battle to even qualify for the Champions League after a humiliating defeat against their title rivals.
Losing to Manchester United may have been painful for the Blues in Moscow, but at least they could look back on that performance with pride and blame misfortune for coming off second best.
In contrast, their showing at Old Trafford was abject and not only makes them firm outsiders for the Premier League title, but also puts the club's place in the top four under threat.
Chelsea have played in the Champions League every season since 2003-04 and have finished in the top two for five consecutive years.
However, a woeful run of 10 points from their last eight games leaves them extremely vulnerable to missing out on a place at Europe's top table.
With a noticeable absence of the team spirit that helped them win Premier League trophies in 2005 and 2006, Chelsea may need to forget about fighting Liverpool and Manchester United for top spot and focus on keeping ahead of Arsenal and this season's surprise package, Aston Villa.
Martin O'Neill's side are showing the consistency Chelsea are lacking at the moment and have genuine attacking threat with the pace of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Where Luiz Felipe Scolari's men are disjointed and laborious, Villa are attacking teams with confidence and will be looking forward to their clash with the Blues on 21 February.
For the past few months, it seemed Arsenal were the most likely of the Big Four to fall victim to Villa's resurgence, but the Gunners have started to succeed where Chelsea have failed, namely winning games while not actually playing well.
The more Scolari shrugs his shoulders and promises to improve things in training, the less convincing he becomes.
As his team collapsed with a whimper against a Manchester United side playing barely out of first gear, the Brazilian looked like a man bewildered and out of ideas.
Pity he couldn't have run into the directors' box and had a word with Chelsea's former manager and deliverer of six trophies in three years, Jose Mourinho.
The Special One was at the game to study United, Inter Milan's opponents in the first knock-out phase of the Champions League next month, yet he must have looked at the players in blue and realised they are not so special any more.
The Chelsea fans who travelled to see the debacle were far from satisfied.
They saw their team register just one shot on target in the whole game and that was a speculative effort from 30 yards by Ashley Cole. This was despite United's influential defender Rio Ferdinand failing to return from a back problem and the inexperienced Jonny Evans playing alongside Nemanja Vidic.
For all his talk about new tactics in training, Scolari set the side up as expected with Didier Drogba leading the line on his own with the midfield quartet of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Deco behind him.
United created more opportunities early on, while Chelsea's moves often floundered with Drogba often being guilty of losing possession.
Ryan Giggs had a free-kick palmed away by Petr Cech and Dimitar Berbatov sent a weak shot straight at the Czech goalkeeper in the opening half hour.
The deadlock was broken in injury time and it was no surprise that it came from a set piece, for Chelsea have been exposed regularly in the past few months.
United had been unlucky to see their first attempt from a cheeky corner ruled out, but the visitors' relief was shortlived as, from the retake, Giggs's cross was flicked on by Berbatov and Vidic headed in at the back post.
Chelsea had supposedly worked harder on defending set pieces in training, yet there are still no signs of improvement.
After the break came Scolari's Plan B as he put Nicolas Anelka on to play alongside Drogba up front.
Unfortunately, he pushed Frank Lampard to the left of midfield to cater for the Frenchman and it only made the team play worse.
Wayne Rooney made the most of poor marking at back post to turn in Patrice Evra's cross and then Chelsea conceded from another set piece when Berbatov turned in Ronaldo's free-kick.
The body language of the Chelsea players was terrible and Lampard appeared to shout at Cech, who sat in his goal disconsolately for a few seconds, telling him get up in no uncertain terms.
After the game Mourinho made his way down to the tunnel and managed to grab a few words with his former players. Even a manager with his record might struggle with the task of turning around Chelsea's season.
Reader views (17)
Could be worse......could be Tottenham!
- Matt, Richmond
Chelsea look suddenly rudderless, heavy-legged and downright old in the face of top-class opposition. Too many similar midfielders all performing the same fruitless task of triangulated passing with no penetration. As for up-front - flaccid is the word. The solution? Bring me in as manager on a short-term contract. I will willingly sort out my beloved Blues - and for no more than a million a year! Cheap at half the price - (which is what Ballack should've been)
- James Murphy, Petersfield, hampshire
The fact deco only came off because he was injured speaks volumes, if scolari could not see how ineffectual he was then maybe he shouldn't be there.He obviously has a problem motivating the players because with the exception of john terry and ashley cole the rest of the team looked like they would rather have been somewhere else. As for drogba he should have been sold the day after the champions league final, pathetic is the only word for him. If abramovitch doesn't want to spend money on another striker and a real left winger then maybe he should sell the club to someone with the money and willingness to do so.
- Chelsea Riz, london
This was a very poor performance by Chelsea, but let's not pin it all on Scolari. The players need to look at themselves and ask how many of them really worked for the team and club. Man Utd's work rate put them to shame.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK
They need to play with some width, everything went down the middle , and Utd defe just gobbled it up all day.
- Brian, Wiltshire
How do you communicate with players when your english is bad . Obviously the players don't undestand the Manager
- Sbu, boston lincs
chelsea are looking more and more like a team with players giving the impression they would rather be somewhere else.i think it started under mourhinio and the word untouchables was used,since then one senses that certain players thoght themselves bigger than management.time for a clear out
- Peter Cooper, romford, england
Scolari is having difficulties to manage the team, he changes the role of the players and he does have real wingers to cross the ball into box.
i am affraid too the players does not recon him as a boss!For the sake of the club and fans HE has to make a decision now before it gets worse!
- Arben, Tirana Albania
If any team out there is interested in Drogba, Chelsea should take the money and invest in a youthful striker.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
Scolari has to go. Now!
- Jane, London
Stephen - smoking crack is really bad for you.
- Andy Rich, London, England
BAAAAHAAAAA CHELSEA
- Kate, London
It breaks my heart to see what is happening to my beloved team! Please can somebody tell me why Mourinho had to go we've been rubbish ever since his departure. And don't credit the Ugly One for getting us to last year's Champion's League final. The Russian has alot to answer for. Scolari seems like a great bloke but what we need is a great clued up manager. Bring back the Special One.
- Sharon, London
The January sales at Stamford Bridge starts on Wednesday at 7am. Clearance are up to 90% OFF.
Do you need Ballack, Drogba or else? they will be all free of charge if you buy Ashley & Joe Cole and Terry.
Hurry up offer ends on the 31st January.
- Fab Bro, london, uk
How can you conclude by one really bad result that Chelsea will struggle to be in the Top 4. This is absolute rubbish!!!
- Jacob, Mumbai, India
what a disgrace,the coach and team should be ashamed to take the pay they get.get scolari out and abramovich now,neither give a damn about the club anymore.ilkl bet with anyone they will not qualify for the champions league and will win nothing again.
- Stephen Smith, lowestoft,england
First, none has won anything as of now: so there is everything to play for. Second, this year the league table is compressed as much at the top as at the bottom. Unlike last few years, till the last minute, up to 3 teams will fight to be the champions and up to 5 or 6 to qualify for the Champions League. So, nothing can be taken for granted. Even now, if Chelsea gets their act together, they can go for the title; equally, if they do not buck up, even Champion's league spot will be under threat. It isn't going to be an easy ride for anyone.
- Nat, New Malden, UK
