Lately in the press in increasing frequency we can hear about the great Chelsea’s tansfers. Topstars Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko had already joined the team, but there’re constant rumors surrounding Chelsea about the other big purchases like Philipp Lahm and Sergio Ramos.
The purpose of Jose Mourinho is quite clear. He wants to make the most powerful football team in Europe, which would be able to obscure even the elegant Barcelona.
Chelsea’s new squad list seems a bit like a world football team, not the English club. Lampard, Shevchenko, Terry, Cech, Ballack! And it’d be beared in mind that Drogba, Essien and Robben are not going to leave yet for some other clubs…
Here there’s a question to be asked. What if Chelsea – a stable, interesting team – would turn into the English variant of Real Madrid, which, having so many stars in its squad, can’t stop surprising pleasantly Barcelona fans by losing to such great Spanish teams like Mallorca and Murcia?…
Of course at the head of Real there was no such an outstanding coach like Jose Mourinho. He’s an excellent tactician and knows what job exactly this or that player is doing. But by no means less important is if he can make the right psychological atmosphere within the team, so that stars would not call in question who’s playing the dominant role in the field, but play-action pass and make chances.
Are all these big players ready to give all one has got in each episode whether it’s the attack or the clearance? Maybe Mourinho knows what he is doing, but what if he is overrating his authority?
In Chelsea Terry and Lampard had become the charismatic personalities, the embodiment of team’s game style. But it’s again not so certain that new players would agree with that kind of hierarchy, and Shevchenko is not dreaming of wearing Chelsea’s captain arm-band. Now when even the substitutes – are the world class footballers, the aim of the each team’s player is not just to win in the match, but to have the very opportunity of going out on the field actually! Joe Cole having been careless in the defence in several matches last season (though he did scored goals), spent than some unforgettable hours on the substitutes’ bench, and he was not glad for sure for his companions replacing him. The squad rotation system is useful for the game, for the results and for fans, but not for the footballers’ playing practice and mentality. Each coach convinces his players, that they should think what the best for the team is firstly, but it’s harder than for the young sportsman (especially the famous one) being at the peak of his powers to hear that it’d be better for the team he rest some time.
Actually when the start squad is more likely the Adidas commercial, some doubts are cast upon the possibility of these guys to achieve a team-work.
On this point the Russian mentality of Roman Abramovich is telling upon it a bit. He’s the man of means and so buys the expensive football-players (like some buys horses or cars) just because he enjoys the idea of having them. And it’s not important whether they’ll be on the field or in the reserve. In fact joining Chelsea, players are risking to lose their playing practice and subsequently their star status.
Speaking of the propriety of Mourinho’s purchases we can’t help recollecting that Liverpool in the Champions league last season did not have any big stars in its squad but Gerrard and in the final match defeated the honoured Milan. Barcelona as a matter of fact possesses one vivid superstar – Ronaldinho. But only within the team with Puyol, Deco and Eto’O Ronaldinho’s genius has revealed itself properly and Barcelona began to overcome. The same Chelsea without any help of Shevchenko and Ballack 2 years running easily won the English championship, not to speak of the League Cup.
Maybe the thing is just in the right ratio of stars and simply good players in one team?
The problem of the well-known Real Madrid is indeed in the absence of one vivid leader. Everyone considers himself to be the most important and no team-work can be seen there. Players spare their feet, slight the clearance. So the beautiful and exciting football of Real Madrid exits no more now.
Would Chelsea repeat the Real’s fate or would win as confident as it did before – is just a matter of time. And this time will be the examination of Mourinho’s coach faculties, and it’ll show whether it is worth gathering all stars under the same roof.
By the example of Real Madrid we can see only the groundlessness of this kind of undertaking.
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