For Chelsea, Familiarity Breeds Regret

Prior to the last 16 UEFA Champions League clash between Chelsea and Inter Milan, the tie was deliciously poised for the neutral.  The Blues needed at least a goal at Stamford Bridge to advance to the quarterfinals and provide a final measure of closure to the Jose Mourinho era in Chelsea; a win would arm Roman Abramovich with the ammunition that his club had effectively moved on from the Special One’s tenure.

The match that played out in London was a different tale.  Physical play, last-ditch tackles and pragmatic passing dominated the day for both teams.  In a display remarkably familiar to Chelsea supporters, Mourinho’s Inter Milan defended stubbornly and carved the widening gaps in the opposition’s defense open with efficient counter-attacks.  Wesley Sneijder eventually opened up the Blues’ defense to offer Eto’o his only real contribution to the game, but the tie was won on the defensive end.  Samuel and Lucio met Didier Drogba’s typically physically-overwhelming presence in kind and provided several last-second lunges to prevent probable goals.

In the end, it was a match that lived up to its billing in ferocious intensity if not skillful football.  Typical jostling for positioning on corners and freekicks turned into rugby scrums with little interference from the referee, culminating in Drogba being sent off.  Punishing defense was the name of the game and Inter’s players fully understood the plan judging by Thiago Motta’s triumphant celebration in the final minutes after stymieing a potential shot on goal.  The ten minute span on either side of the half promised pressure worthy of at least a goal but their resolution seemed to fade as Inter refused to buckle under the increased intensity; overall, Chelsea’s performance did not deserve progress.

The knee-jerk reactions dominated the resulting headlines: Mourinho praised as a genius, Carlo Ancelotti’s future put to question, and reactionary transfer purchases suggested for the Blues.  But without overreacting, the tie revealed little new.  Chelsea is a much less threatening side without Ashley Cole overlapping from left back or Michael Essien patrolling the midfield.  Branislav Ivanovic can defend heroically at right back but lacks the danger of Jose Bosingwa going forward.

Mourinho has always known how to inspire a squad to defend stubbornly and attack efficiently, a style he trademarked while in London.  When Abramovich grew tired of his ruthless efficiency, the Russian czar eventually brought in Ancelotti in pursuit of flair and pageantry.  The most pressing conclusion the tie did reveal: the Italian has yet to find the attacking artistry within the Chelsea squad to overcome the dogged determination embodied by Mourinho.

Champions League, Chelsea, Inter Milan