Chelsea suffered their first defeat in all competitions, with Newcastle United beating them 2-0 at St James’ Park on the weekend. The Blues were without holding midfielder Nemanja Matic – who was suspended for the clash after picking up five bookings in the campaign – and it showed with their defensive performance.
“No problem. It is a big player for us who isn’t playing but we trust other people and we forget Matic. He has a little bit of a holiday, a free weekend which he deserves very, very much, and he comes back stronger. It’s no problem,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho prior to the game.
But it was a problem. Newcastle took advantage of the Serbian’s absence, with Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel struggling to replicate the level of performances shown by his superior. Their unbeaten run came to an end on the weekend as a result, but it raises questions about the true depth of Chelsea’s side.
The Blues have the strongest overall starting XI in the Premier League, and a side good enough to rival the top European clubs too, but they have little in the way of adequate cover in key positions that could become an issue.
In the midfield, John Obi Mikel and Ramires are the only options to replace Cesc Fabregas or Nemanja Matic, and Ramires features from the wing more than any other position, so Mourinho is threadbare in an important role.
Considering Manchester City’s Frank Lampard is shining while on loan from New York City (13 games, 5 goals), Mourinho could well be regretting his decision to let him leave in the summer. Cesc Fabregas (15 games, 11 assists, 1 goal) has been an outstanding playmaker for the Blues this season, but in his absence, there’s nobody coming close to replacing him from the Chelsea side.
When every player is fully fit, there’s little doubt this Chelsea team would finish at the summit come May, but should they lose their key men in the midfield, of whom they have no adequate replacement for, their season could unravel.
Mourinho has been lauded for his shrewd actions in the transfer market, but while he opted for great amounts of quality, he forgot about quantity. Matic only missed the Newcastle game through suspension, but injuries can happen throughout the course of a season which the club cannot legislate for.
When the January transfer window opens, the Blues boss could well consider bringing some midfield options just in case the unthinkable does happen. He’s been lucky so far that their pair have been ever-present in all competitions, but will Mourinho pay the price for gambling with a small squad?
