Recent results show that Mourinho's
antics are distracting him and his side from matters on the pitch, writes Andy
Dunn
At least the man unfamiliar with
failure can now concentrate on not winning the Premier League.
And the man bold enough to admit a
quadruple is a possibility can get on with his unlikely but dignified pursuit.
Maybe Jose Mourinho was not bluffing
with the little horse nonsense.
Maybe he really does believe this Chelsea squad is not yet good enough to be
certain contenders for a trophy this season, that they are rank outsiders for
the title.
One thing is for sure.
This defeat should mark the moment
Mourinho focuses his attention, his psychological slings and arrows, on only
one target... his own team.
It is all well and good taking a
verbal scythe to your rivals – but not when your side’s razor-sharp edge is
being dulled.
Being released from FA Cup commitments has almost taken on a positive
sheen these days but this was a decisive loss to follow Chelsea’s indecisive
draw at the Hawthorns last week.
The soundbite sword-crossing needs
to stop.
He has drawn a bit of blood – now
Mourinho will surely concentrate on the serious stuff of solving the problems
that could indeed threaten a successful end to the season. Concentrate on how
to progress in tough matches without John Terry, for example.
It would be no surprise if we didn’t
see David Luiz at centre-half again.
Concentrate on how to get some
decent productivity out of his limited striking options. Neither Samuel Eto’o
nor Fernando Torres – who, oddly, saw fellow substitute Mohamed Salah sent on
ahead of him – made any sort of impact yesterday.
Concentrate on reproducing the
intensity that marked their league win here at the Etihad.
In terns of commitment, zest and
sheer application, this Chelsea team was a mile behind the one that triumphed a
fortnight ago.
And it was a strong Chelsea line-up
with a mighty bench. But they were outplayed and out- muscled by a City team
still deprived of a couple of key men.
That is what will make this rare
victory over Mourinho all the more significant for Manuel Pellegrini. He will
not revel in personal success, ahead of the mighty meeting with Barcelona on
Tuesday, he will just be relieved that the mojo is back, that a swagger was
returning to the attacking step.
Relieved that Edin Dzeko and Stevan
Jovetic showed they can provide adequately threatening back-up to Sergio Aguero
and Alavaro Negredo – although, hopefully, Pellegrini will give the Montenegrin
a telling-off for one of the most pathetic dives of the season (and that is
some accolade).
And relieved that Samir Nasri
produced a cheeky, beguiling cameo to put the contest out of Chelsea’s reach.
Since he arrived on these shores,
doubts about Nasri’s heart and value have surfaced regularly. Not any more.
There are not many more crucial to the success of this team. Nasri has given
them a lift, this result, this performance has given them a lift. The dream of
four can be resumed.
As for Jose, he offered a warm,
congratulatory handshake to Pellegrini and most of the City bench.
Perhaps he knows it’s time for the
nonsense and posturing to stop. The Champions League is coming, the Premier
League is entering the final stretch – it’s time for serious business.
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