Champions 2014-15 is what Chelsea can now call themselves. However, after a few months to recuperate, they go again.
With limited transfer activity, Chelsea have replaced rather than added, to a team who set the league alight last campaign. Begovic adds Premier League pedigree to first choice Courtois, while Falcao has a lot to prove after a lack-lustre season in which he failed to live up to his goal scoring exploits.
Pre-season was shabby, with the Champions suffering a number of losses which hasn’t injected much confidence as yet.
Alas, there is a different energy that radiates from a competitive match in the Premier League compared to warm-up friendlies, which offer little in the long run.
Swansea come to the Bridge as a club well feted and established in the league. Some deem them to possess enough quality to push for the top eight positions, so this opening fixture is a serious challenge for the blues.
With Costa being risked, despite his hamstring problems, Chelsea were looking for all three points.
The opening of the game lacked little potency from the teams, with both finding their footing as though acclimatising themselves to the realisation that the season has officially begun.
Source: chelseafc.com
Set pieces are notorious for changing games. So when Oscar’s deliciously struck free-kick evaded the Swansea players to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead, the game picked up and offered a more attacking energy.
A lively Swansea did get an equaliser in the 29th minute as Montero hurtled down the left hand side to feed Bafetimbi Gomis, his header being sublimely saved by a heroic Courtois. However, it was new boy Ayew who took advantage of the deflection to rifle the ball firmly into the net and get his debut goal for Swansea.
Before Swansea could settle down, Chelsea took the upper hand again. Some brilliant work from Willian attacked Fernandez on the left hand flank, his attempted cross taking a cruel deflection of Fernandez’ back, looping over Fabianski into the net.
Half time allowed Swansea to regroup. This was evident immediately as they hunted redemption through some glorious chances. Shelvey pummelled the post with a vicious effort while some alert goalkeeping from Courtois kept out Montero’s close range attempt.
This more zestful Swansea paid of, as Gomis was played through on goal and accelerated towards Courtois, whose effort to retrieve the ball fouled Gomis and led to a subsequent penalty. To make matters worse, Courtois was deemed to be denying a goal scoring opportunity and therefore saw red from referee, Michael Oliver.
This made way for Begovic to make an early debut for Chelsea in the league. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the dream start, Gomis finishing easily from 12 yards.
Swansea still pressed for the remainder of the match, while the introduction of Falcao did not lead to a winning goal. The final whistle signalled an opening day point for both teams. Not the perfect start for Chelsea.
I thought Chelsea today looked very laid back, while there wasn’t enough going forward or defensively. Too much space was given to the Swansea forwards, which allowed them a hatful of chances.
It was frustrating to see Courtois get given a straight red today. Although he impeded Gomis, it did not appear to be a clear goal scoring opportunity, so I thought that decision was extremely harsh.
There hasn’t been much in the way of stellar performances in pre-season or today in our first league game. If Chelsea want to retain their title, they need to liven up and become a more potent force across the pitch, because they looked very lackadaisical and ordinary today. Playing like this will not make you champions, that’s for sure.
Edward
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