Just as the world was losing faith on tiki-taka, the biggest proponent of counter attacking football dazzled the world with a 25 move goal vs promoted Burnley. That goal on monday night, finished by world cup winner Andre Schurrle, may only be remembered for Fabregas's audacious assist. But if Mourinho and Chelsea keep this level of play entire season, it will be one of the best footballing seasons to watch.
Jose's early, menacing and smart moves in the transfer market will ultimately be the deciding factor should the title come back to London. Imagine Cesc, Costa & Filipe brought over at a cost, 60% of which was recovered just by selling David Luiz. Absolute strokes of genius.
Away teams held sway in first gameweek of the Barclays Premier League 2014-15 season, uncharacteristically. Expectedly, Spanish or La Liga imports took limelight - Sanchez, Costa, Cesc, Silva and Aguero - as has been the case in preceding years.
While Mata, Herera had decent starts to their campaign, the opening loss will give Manchester United fans some balance in expectations. United have the easiest draw till 26th Sep and can't afford to drop points like the opening game, but Van Gaal will need time and couple of good signings, lest this season will run away too. Fans have to be patient. The Dutch maestro had a fantastic World Cup with a squad he groomed over two years, not over two pre-season months.
Two pre-season months, though, was enough for Mauricio Pochettino to get Tottenham a fighting win away at Upton park playing most of the game with a man short. West Ham had done the double on their London rivals last season, hence this result is a good start, in face of adversity. It's the sort of result which gives belief that the unheralded Argentine and forever underperforming Spurs are going to have their say in the title race, finally.
City of Manchester shared seven of the last eight titles, only punctuated by Chelsea in 2010. If I had to put money, it's the deep blues turn again. Mourinho can't go trophyless for three consecutive years and a midfield which has Willian, Oscar, Cesc, Matic, Schrulle and Hazard vying for four slots have too much depth and quality to fail. Thanks to these personnel, in a refreshingly welcome step, Chelsea will be forced to move out of their park-the-bus tactics and go all out in big games too. To add, Courtois and Cech are amongst the best five keepers in the world to add to a defence, which is generally impregnable.
The deep blues and their lighter version could be running away with the chase early. In Pellegrini's first month incharge (Aug-Sep 2013), City had unbelievably dropped easy points away to lower ranked teams - Cardiff, Villa & Stoke to be precise. But for that start and a Kompany miskick later in the season, City would have walked away with the title with more ease.
There was no evidence of early faltering this time around. ManCity were professional, decisive against a good opponent, Edin Dzeko looked sharper than ever, Fernando fitted in seamlessly and the defence looked just as impregnable. Aguero's slip and rise again to score displayed that heart and effort as a sub which may have questioned Argentina World Cup fans whether their stars remain more faithful to clubs. Aguero was non existent in Brazil and should have been sent off in the finals within some minutes of his coming on.
Ditto Gonzalo Higuain - one of the prime culprits for the Albiceleste's lack of goals with a list of easy chances missed every game at Brazil. Late yesterday, he twisted, turned and dribbled past three defenders and equalized for Napoli versus Athletic Bilbao - creating a goal out of nothing and turning the game on its head.
Both incidents, a clear reflection of how superstars reserve their best for their employers and force cynics to believe that actual quality, gut wrenching football, is club football.
Am not complaining! You shouldn't too.
Source: DSG
