Storm clouds come silver-lined for Blues
Hard to like, and difficult to beat, Roberto Di Matteo’s side seem to be thriving despite the storm gathering over the club since John Terry’s infamous race row with QPR’s Anton Ferdinand almost a year ago.
In that time, Chelsea have dumped the hapless Andre Villas-Boas, become FA Cup winners and European Champions and now stand four points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Gone is the dour defensiveness that took them past Barcelona and Bayern Munich to Europe’s ultimate prize last season. In its place is a side fizzing with attacking intent, orchestrated by the magical Juan Mata, ably supported by Oscar and Eden Hazard.
The three of them ran rings around Norwich on Saturday, to record their sixth win in seven league games — their best start to a season for seven years. The way they are playing is just what Di Matteo wants as his players focus on football against a backdrop of controversy and chaos.
Terry will be banned for four matches unless he can overturn a guilty verdict following misconduct charges by the FA, who are likely to join Chelsea in disciplining Ashley Cole for his abusive tweet when their regulatory commission’s 63-page report was released last Friday. Di Matteo confirmed Chelsea will implement proceedings for breaching the club’s rules on social media use, with a likely fine of two week’s wages (€300,000), the maximum allowed under PFA rules. Terry has yet to decide whether to appeal and Cole is also likely to be overlooked for England’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino on Friday, meaning he may have to wait until next February to become an England centurion alongside the likes of Messrs Moore, Charlton and Beckham.
Yet on the pitch, Terry and Cole are no longer the main protagonists. And Saturday’s comfortable victory over Norwich was rarely in doubt. Even when Grant Holt gave the visitors a surprise lead in the 11th minute, Chelsea simply stepped up a gear and could have had far more than four but for a defiant display by Norwich goalie John Ruddy.
“They’re an offensive team with Mata, Hazard and Oscar and they’ve got such good rotation and movement. They present a different challenge to previous Chelsea teams,” said Norwich manager Chris Hughton.
Even Di Matteo is pleasantly surprised at how quickly the players have adapted.
“You hope for it. But it’s also thanks to the players we’ve signed, intelligent players who seem to have a natural understanding. I still think we need to work on certain things, our shape and so on. But we are playing good football and it’s quite exciting to watch our team.”
Better teams than strugglers Norwich, however, may be able to exploit the new attack-minded Blues, as Hughton explained.
“What can happen – and I think we showed that in spells today – is you can utilise the spaces because they’re an offensive team and at times Mata, Hazard and Oscar will get caught in forward areas. And I think we showed that at times, we were able to break and break through the lines. But we’ve got to be clinical as well.”
Norwich started well, with Holt volleying home from 15 yards after Leon Barnett headed back a cross from Wes Hoolahan, who troubled the home defence time and again.
Fernando Torres had already missed a sitter by dithering in the third minute, but he made no mistake to head home Branislav Ivanovic’s cross 10 minutes later to equalise. Frank Lampard made it 2-1and Hazard put the result beyond doubt when he swept the ball past Ruddy after a thrilling run from defence by Mata.
Ivanovic put some icing on the cake with another powerful volley in a one-sided second half.
While Di Matteo can go into the international break with a comfortable lead at the top of the table, he still has the off-field distractions surrounding Terry and Cole, who will be disciplined by the club as well as the FA for his tweet.
“The image of the club is very important to us,” said the manager. “We have rules and if anybody breaks them there is disciplinary action taken against them. We strive to have high standards. Hopefully going forward we can be better in showing those.
“I come from Switzerland. I like rules. They are there to be respected. I wouldn’t say I’m a disciplinarian but you need rules to be able to live and work together.”
CHELSEA 4-5-1: Cech 6; Ivanovic 7, Terry 7, Luiz 6, Cole 7; Mata 9, Mikel 6, Lampard 7, Oscar 7, Hazard 7; Torres 5.
Subs: Ramires for Lampard 67, Azpilicueta for Ivanovic 78, Romeu for Mikel 83.
NORWICH 4-4-1-1: Ruddy 8; Russell 6, Bassong 6, Barnett 5, Garrido 7; E Bennett 6, Tettey 5, Howson 6, Johnson 6; Holt 7, Hoolahan 7.
Subs: Pilkington for Johnson 68, Morison for Holt 77, R Bennett for Bassong 78.
Referee: A Taylor (7).
Man of the match: Juan Mata.
