Chelsea Struggles to Turn Ship Around After Disappointing Premier League Start

The friendly games campaign went according to the plan for the reigning champions, but the seeds of trouble were there for savvy punters to see. Chelsea allowed an average of two goals per match in the International Champions Cup and their defensive struggles continued once the Premier League started.

Shaky Backline Sends Chelsea Reeling

Mourinho has a reputation for running a tight ship and he is best known for his teams’ ability to defend effectively against any opponent. For some all the reason, Chelsea was not able to keep opponents at bay, despite the fact that these squads were fully aware of their underdog status.

Allowing 2 goals per match is simply too much for a team that hopes to defend the title in 2015 and most of the explanations provided by club insiders don’t hold on to scrutiny. The busy schedule has never been a problem for Chelsea who has plenty of depth to maintain the same high level in several competitions.

Indiscipline Takes Its Toll

Courtois saw a red card and spent one match on the bench, which further amplified their problems and the backup goalie is hardly a worthy replacement. The goalkeeper was not the only one to be eliminated, with veteran John Terry being sent off against West Bromwich. He is going to miss the next fixture as well, as Chelsea travels to Liverpool for a match against Everton.

Chelsea was lucky to claim all three points one week ago, but after Terry left the pitch they allowed one goal and were dominated in the final minutes of the match. Another explanation for their early season struggles is Diego Costa’s inability to score goals. He and Falcao are tied with one goal each, despite the fact that they are widely regarded as two of the best strikers in the Premier League.