The first heavyweight clash

Over the last week controversy has swirled around Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho is accused of mistreating his medical staff after they ran onto the pitch towards the end of the game, a game in which Chelsea only had 10 men on the field, which forced that player off the field as per the game rules. That player was Eden Hazard.

I don't like to talk about off field politics too much but apparently Hazard asked for the medical staff and it is their obligation to attend to him. I understand where Mourinho is coming from to an extent but the duty of the medical team is to secure the players safety above all else. On top of this, no punishment seems to have been handed to Hazard, who called the doctor on in the first place. This is definitely out of order. We can assume, however, that there was degree of argument that went on between Mourinho and his medical staff that led to the doctor and physiotherapist missing Sunday's game.

Now we get onto the important part though, Sunday's game. No one is talking about Sunday's game, and it is a huge game. Manchester City take on Chelsea at the Etihad Arena. Yes we are only two games in but Chelsea failed to win their first game and Manchester City won theirs convincingly.

Manchester City are at home and Chelsea do not have their first choice Goalkeeper available. Chelsea could well end up coming out of this game with only 1 point from their first two games and already being 5 points behind Manchester City, arguably their biggest title rivals. That makes this a huge game and the pressure is truly on Chelsea, of course we haven't seen that because the headlines have been about the medical staff.

Whether this is Mourinho's plan or not, it doesn't really matter. The fact is, Chelsea need to get something from this game. The likelihood will be that Chelsea play for the classic 0-0 to save potential embarrassment. A policy that I personally hate. I get that they occasionally emerge with a 1-0 win but a team like Chelsea has the resources to build the best squad and, while I am all for a tactical game plan, I do not believe you should go into a football match with out the desire to win.

This is Chelsea's great problem at the moment in my opinion. Hopefully, one day soon, fan will look for performances as well as just results considering it probably cost them an arm and a leg to watch their team fail to look better than a team they are supposed to be better than (if that makes sense). 

Manchester City have Aguero back fit, although he will not be rushed apparently, and are basically at full strength. They have the firepower to breakdown Chelsea so the Chelsea players will definitely be feeling some pressure but to be 5 points behind already would be a disaster.

We have our first heavyweight clash of the season and the pressure is really on Chelsea. While it could well be a boring game, no one is really talking about. Is that classic Mourinho magic?