Chelsea have only managed four points from their first four games as Mourinho suffered only his second home defeat at the Bridge. PHOTO: AFP
Chelsea’s shock 2-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday left Mourinho’s men a significant eight points behind leaders Manchester City just four games into the campaign.
Those four matches have now yielded two defeats, including a 3-0 reverse at City, compared to just three league losses in the whole of last season.
Asked whether he would be splashing the cash on Everton’s John Stones and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, two big-money targets both linked to Chelsea, Mourinho said: “I hope not. I don’t like that.
However, the Portuguese had no intention of sugar-coating the dismal start that his team have got off to. “The reality is that we have had a bad start,” said Mourinho. “Four points is a very bad start. To perform collectively you need individual performances. The amount of chances means you are playing, means you are producing something. It’s not enough.”
Chelsea were left reeling as fellow Londoners Palace secured their first win at the Bridge since 1982 and inflicted just Mourinho’s second defeat in 100 home league matches as the Blues’ manager.
Bacary Sako opened the scoring in the second half before Radamel Falcao looked to have earned Chelsea at least a point when he headed home.
But within two minutes of the equaliser, Joel Ward struck the winner for the visitors.
Nevertheless, Mourinho said there was plenty of time for his side to re-ignite their title challenge. “We have eight points less than the leader. In another league I would say ‘game over’. In the Premier League I don’t say ‘game over’ because last season we have seven points to the second team and in one month we lost the seven points.”
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew was delighted with his side. “We kept creating chances and that’s very difficult to do here,” he said. “My team is better than last year, as we have better technical players. Sako has been a real boost for us and we wouldn’t have won the last two games without him.”
Pardew also praised the endeavour his side showed. “It’s difficult to overcome a Chelsea team and their manager here,” he said. “You could nick a win or park the bus here to try to do that. But we didn’t do that.”
Pellegrini not getting carried away
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini insists it is far too early for City to get carried away despite their 2-0 win over Watford meaning they are the only side with a perfect record after four rounds.
Second-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho gave City the three points. “We are not thinking about what happened with Chelsea,” said Pellegrini. “We are just starting the season. We’ve only played four games. So it’s important to think game by game, and not to think about other rivals.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2015.
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