JOSÉ MOURINHO OFTEN COMPLAINS that Chelsea are not granted the credit they deserve, but yesterday they did not deserve any. Outplayed by Middlesbrough, the champions slumped to the worst defeat under their sensitive manager, a statistic that is more cosmetic than calamitous. Mourinho and his players could afford to take the next month off.
If they had not made the manoeuvre impractical by firing bullets at their own feet, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal should be kicking themselves. This is Chelsea’s blip, a fleeting moment of uncertainty, the golden opportunity that their rivals are snubbing. Their advantage is now a mere 12 points.
Their form, of course, is a different matter. Since their narrow 2-1 victory over Sunderland on January 15, Chelsea have drawn against Charlton Athletic, Everton and Aston Villa, beaten Liverpool and lost 3-0 to Middlesbrough. They have amassed six points from their past five games, a record that Steve McClaren’s team have equalled.
In terms of preparation for their Champions League confrontation with Barcelona, a thrashing on Teesside is hardly ideal, although it may serve to shake complacency from their exalted beings. It is the fault of brittle rivals that Chelsea exist in splendid isolation at the top of the table; motivation must come from within. Their next two matches in the Barclays Premiership are at home to Portsmouth and away to West Bromwich Albion, which should stop Sir Alex Ferguson from cackling too loudly. After losing 1-0 to United in November, Chelsea won their next ten league games. When they were beaten away to Manchester City in October 2004, they followed it with eight consecutive victories stretched over four competitions.
McClaren will hope that this result is the turning point in a traumatic season for his team. “We’ve been inconsistent,” the Yorkshireman said, but he is incorrect. At the Riverside, his team are undefeated against Chelsea, United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal but have not beaten Sunderland, Portsmouth or West Bromwich. While they have been undermined by the loss of senior personnel — George Boateng, whose absence with an ankle injury has been felt keenly, returned as a substitute on Saturday — they have been unable to rouse themselves for humdrum encounters. It is criticism that can be levelled at the crowd, too.
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Having been pelted with season-tickets after the 4-0 humiliation at home to Aston Villa, McClaren should now have plaudits thrown at him, although the campaign will be defined by forthcoming matches against VfB Stuttgart, Preston North End, West Bromwich and Birmingham City. This was a tactical triumph. Stewart Downing excelled on the left wing, Fabio Rochemback revelled in a central role, Yakubu Ayegbeni was a lone striker of menacing strength and the defence worked tigerishly.
In grasping the lead in the second minute, Yakubu driving in from the left, Rochemback bamboozling John Terry and shooting low, Middlesbrough set the tone. After Downing tested Petr Cech, there was a flurry of long-range efforts from Frank Lampard, but nothing of substance until Mark Schwarzer parried a swerving shot from Michael Essien. On the cusp of half-time, Downing scored tamely.
William Gallas had limped from the field, but Mourinho brought on Carlton Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips for the insipid Gérémi and Joe Cole. Neither made a difference until Cole struck a post, by which time Middlesbrough were farther ahead when Yakubu twisted past Terry. “I will watch the video,” Mourinho said. “And then I will throw it away.” He can.