Obedient to their boss, Chelsea’s back four provided irrefutable evidence at Stamford Bridge as to exactly why Jose Mourinho was so desperate to sign John Stones from Everton.
Chelsea’s defence was ripped to pieces by a man-of-the-match performance by Bakary Sako, a free transfer from Wolves. There were times in the second half when they looked more like a shambolic rabble than a well-drilled unit.
Before Saturday, Mourinho had lost only one of his 99 league games in charge at The Bridge. Now it is two out of 100. On this showing, he will be desperate to draft his suspended captain, John Terry, back into his team after the international break.
Then again, on this showing, he may decide that desperate times require desperate remedies. Chelsea need to strengthen their back four: that much is obvious. If they really have given up on Stones, they need to look elsewhere. Quickly.
Stones, who is playing for Everton in north London on Saturday, rather than for Chelsea in west London, dominated the day even though he was not here. Chelsea had found themselves under attack even before the game started. Everton boss Roberto Martinez criticised their pursuit of Stones and said that Everton stood for ‘more important values’.
For many, it is an understandable source of encouragement that a less affluent club like Everton has resisted Chelsea’s attempts to buy the central defender and has, in its own way, stood up to the might of the Premier League’s fabulously rich.
At the same time, it is hard to see why Chelsea are being vilified for trying to sign Stones. Transfers happen. Players move up the food chain. Everton plucked Stones from Barnsley two years ago, now Chelsea are trying to buy him from them.
There is no particular need for controversy or rancour. There is certainly no need for Everton fans to make Stones fear for his safety. Chelsea made three bids for him, as is their right. Everton turned them down, as is their right. End of story.
source:dailymail.co.uk
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 