Thursday 17 September 2015 14:02, UK
Jose Mourinho shook things up and got a Champions League response from his Chelsea team, writes Adam Bate...
The response was long overdue but Jose Mourinho finally saw something from his players. It owed as much to a frenzied effort than any controlled excellence but it was more than enough to earn Chelsea the points as they opened their Champions League campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Few could question the enduring spikiness of the Chelsea boss but coaxing something similar from his struggling team has proven problematic thus far this season. "I will make changes because I have to try to create a different dynamic; I have to try a couple of different faces," Mourinho had said before the game. Those changes made an impact from the outset as Chelsea upped the tempo.
Outwardly, Mourinho appeared furious at seeing teenage midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek booked for an aggressive challenge within a minute of the kick-off. Inwardly, he was surely encouraged by the intent.
After three curiously uninspired defeats in the previous four games, that's what the players drafted into the starting line-up provided against the Israeli champions.
"The team was more aggressive with the ball and without the ball," Mourinho said afterwards.
"Without the ball, you could see the team was much more aggressive, much stronger, the lines closer together and a much better reaction when the team lost the ball to try to recover immediately; to try to force the mistake from the opponent rather than wait for the mistake."
Without the ball, you could see the team was much more aggressive.
Loftus-Cheek set that tone. "I think he played very well, which is very good for us," said Mourinho. "I think he's in condition to compete with the other players for positions, for opportunities, for minutes." Speaking of both Loftus-Cheek and Cesc Fabregas, he added: "They gave speed to the team. The ball was quickly leaving defensive areas and reaching the attacking players."
Baba Rahman was another given his chance with the out-of-sorts Branislav Ivanovic making way and Cesar Azpilicueta moving to his more natural position of right-back. The summer signing from Augsburg epitomised the improved energy in the side with a well-timed tackle in the opening moments and came up with another interception soon after. He continued in similar vein.
Indeed, the sight of Rahman bursting forwards in his bright pink boots was a feature of the game and his overlapping runs helped buy space for Eden Hazard ahead of him. Hazard's own start to the season has been uncharacteristically poor and while the player of the year hasn't quite plumbed the depths of some team-mates, his dip in form from last term has been just as marked.
Mourinho had identified a lack of confidence among players not used to losing as chief among his concerns. So Hazard's woefully skied penalty inside six minutes, earned after Willian was brought down by goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic, could have been an issue. Perhaps that's why Mourinho made such a big show of offering encouragement to his winger before the ball landed in the Shed End.
"The penalty we missed was a big test for us because when everything goes against you I think it's a great test for the character of the team," he explained. "I think the team was determined to be different today and show a different state of mind. It's good that we had an extra negative episode and the reaction was very good so I am happy with the performance and the result."
He repeated the applause later in the half when Hazard overhit a cross, but by that stage Chelsea were already a goal up and any nerves were beginning to ease. Willian's inswinging left-wing cross eluded everyone and found the net. He was off injured soon after, replaced by Diego Costa, and it was the striker who helped end the game as a contest by winning a second penalty just before the interval.
A brilliant third by Costa and a fourth on the break courtesy of the improved Fabregas ensured a big win. Not that it was perfect. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville identified on Monday Night Football that Kurt Zouma still has "a lot to learn" and that was evident when he failed to hold the line at a free-kick from which captain Eran Zahavi should have headed Maccabi Tel Aviv level.
At the other end, there were times when the conviction failed to match the urgency. But such was the gulf between the sides, Chelsea were still able to score twice in each half and one suspects that - contrary to the stereotype - this was the sort of performance Mourinho will have wanted to see from his players. If confidence is lacking, at least show hunger. Chelsea showed plenty.
It was there in Loftus-Cheek's display, one that earned a standing ovation from the supporters. Loic Remy, eager to seize a rare chance, brought it in spades - still tracking back long after the game had been won and playing a key role in Fabregas's goal. And Rahman might even have capped a fine performance with an even better goal had he evaded one last challenge after a penetrative run.
The changes worked and suddenly it's Chelsea not Arsenal going into Saturday's showdown with something approaching momentum. 'Blue is the Colour' blared out at full-time but it was the second choice of song - 'I Saw The Sign' - that felt more significant. Mourinho's team showed signs of form. Further evidence will be needed before Chelsea can be confident they're back to their very best.
