A re-make just as good as original

Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 0

Chelsea, who go to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League tomorrow for their next adventure, produced the kind of efficient, pragmatic and yet skilful performance reminiscent of Mourinho’s first spell in charge and which suggested his latest re-modelling of a team that under-achieved last season, and which looked to be reaching the end of the road under previous managers, is now almost complete.

There was absolutely no mistaking the 2014-15 model is a Mourinho team. All the signs were there: the efficiency of the performance and the tactics, the ruthlessness in attack (even if they should, perhaps, have scored more in the first half), the body language that oozed self confidence, that knack of doing just enough – and not using an ounce of energy more – to win a game with no fuss and no scares.

There were times in his first spell at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea were so good that, for a neutral, home games lacked tension or excitement. You always knew they were in charge and Frank Lampard and company had another gear; so the routine was a goal in the first-half, a goal in the second-half, see out the match for a comfortable victory and conserve energy for midweek.

Saturday’s game took a similar path. Although Villa defended well the result was never in doubt; and although Chelsea showed wonderful moments of skill, particularly for the second goal scored by Diego Costa — which featured two backheels and a cute cross from Azipilicueta – they never did more than they had to.

“Villa didn’t have a shot,” Mourinho said. “The game was easy to control. And from minute one everything was under control. The four defenders there and Matic and Fabregas were fantastic in the way they moved the ball and their position when we didn’t have the ball. Always in a good position to try to stop them to counter-attack, because we know they have good fast players on counter-attack, so the team played really well.”

Chelsea’s afternoon was made easier by Oscar’s seventh-minute opening goal, the midfielder finishing neatly after Willian intelligently pulled back a pass for his Brazilian teammate having had a shot saved by Villa keeper Brad Guzan. From that moment on Chelsea were in control.

In the 2014-15 version of the side that won Chelsea’s first title in 50 years, Lampard’s influential role is taken by Fabregas – who pulled the strings from midfield against Villa – while Nemanja Matic plays Claude Makelele, and Eden Hazard and Willian reprise the skilful wing play of Arjen Robben and Damien Duff. But it is Costa, doing an admirable job of convincing us all he is Didier Drogba in disguise, who is the new king of Stamford Bridge. Despite struggling with a hamstring injury that makes it tough for him to play two games in a week – and difficult to train at full pelt – he decided this match with an immaculate header from a Azpilicueta cross in the 60th minute and also set up the third, his shot saved by Guzan for Willian to force home 10 minutes from time. Mourinho’s big decision now is whether to risk Costa for tomorrow’s trip to Lisbon; and having drawn their opening match against Schalke in Group G he admits it is tempting. The Spanish international has been an inspired buy and, according to teammate Oscar, one of the major reasons for Chelsea’s improvement this season.

“The difference between this season and last is Diego,” said the Brazilian. “He has scored so many goals. I know and he knows that he needs to continue doing this. I think we are better than last season.

“Last season we played very well but didn’t score the goals. This season we have Costa, as well as Didier and Remy — and the midfield is scoring more goals, me, Eden Hazard, Willian, Schurrle, Salah. It’s very good.”

Sitting top of the league, three points clear of Southampton and five points above champions Man City, it is hard to argue with that assessment.

All the signs are that this is one re-make which has the potential to be just as good as the original. In fact, as on Saturday, it could be an Oscar winner.

CHELSEA: Courtois 6; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 6, Terry 6, Azpilicueta 7; Fabregas 8, Matic 7; Willian 7, Oscar 7 (Mikel 77; 6), Hazard 6 (Schurrle 68, 6); Costa 7 (Remy 81).

ASTON VILLA: Guzan 7; Hutton 6, Senderos 6, Baker 6, Cissokho 6; Richardson 6 (Bent 69, 5), Cleverley 6, Westwood 6, Delph 7, Weimann 5 (N’Zogbia 69, 5); Agbolahor 7.

Referee: Phil Dowd.