There remains an air of collective denial around Stamford Bridge. When Guus Hiddink, speaking ahead of the match with Everton, suggested that Chelsea are very much engaged in a relegation dogfight, his comments were easily dismissed as pure exaggeration, used to shock his players into life.
Hiddink’s admission that a relegation scrap is a “very realistic” scenario may overstep the mark slightly but it cannot be dismissed out of hand, as the 3-3 draw against Everton illustrated. Despite a spirited fight-back, with a John Terry goal in the 98th minute which video replays suggest should have been ruled out for offside, it is evident that Chelsea will end the season closer to the bottom than the top.
Talk of the Blues turning a corner since Jose Mourinho’s departure relies on ignoring a few uncomfortable truths. Chelsea are undefeated under Hiddink but the defence is shambolic, their midfield lacks bite and their attack is incapable of putting together a coherent performance over the course of 90 minutes.
There are flashes of quality, illustrated by Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, who benefitted from a charitable Everton defence, but Hiddink’s tenure so far is providing further questions, rather than answers.
There are flashes of quality, illustrated by Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa, who benefitted from a charitable Everton defence, but Hiddink’s tenure so far is providing further questions, rather than answers.
The Dutch manager warned the club that doing business in January can often go wrong, but the squad clearly needs an injection of quality. John Obi Mikel and Nemanja Matic, sitting in front of the back four, too often gave the ball away, failing to gain any hold on the game. Fabregas, playing slightly further forward, was brighter but even his mercurial efforts often came unstuck.
While problems persist in the midfield, the real cause for concern at Stamford Bridge is the defence. Hiddink has favoured Kurt Zouma over Gary Cahill as Terry's partner at the back, yet problems remain. The France defender possesses supreme pace and strength, easily winning one-on-ones, but his positioning is often sub-standard.
His defensive partner, the long-standing captain and heartbeat of the side, is perhaps the perfect metaphor for Chelsea’s decline from title winners to bottom-half strugglers this season. Simply put, he appears incapable of reaching his once imperious level of performance.
His mistake, kicking a clearance against his standing foot and knocking the ball into the Chelsea net, gave Everton the lead, while a visible lack of pace allowed Kevin Mirallas to tread the line of offside throughout the match. The Belgian should have scored sooner, with Zouma and Terry floundering.
A last minute equaliser saved the day somewhat, but Terry’s controversial late goal papers over the cracks of an incredibly shaky performance from the Blues skipper.
A last minute equaliser saved the day somewhat, but Terry’s controversial late goal papers over the cracks of an incredibly shaky performance from the Blues skipper.
If the dismissal of Mourinho and the appointment of the more amenable Hiddink was supposed to serve as an antidote to all of Chelsea’s ills, the dosage is yet to have any real lasting effect. The problems that blighted the club in the first half of the season, ultimately leading to the Portuguese’s dismissal, were out in full force against Everton. The difference, if any, appears that the team are still prepared to fight to the final whistle.
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