Jose Mourinho's Chelsea make history in style
By Henry Winter
Sport.Telegraph, 13th August 2007
Chelsea yesterday re-wrote the record books, and filled more than a few
scrap-books with images and reports of scintillating football. How fitting
that in a thrilling game that was a throwback to a more expressive era,
Chelsea set a new league record of 64 games unbeaten, breaking the mark
set between 1978 and 1981 by those fine Liverpool sides containing Kenny
Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen.
"Everyone knows the record belonged to all those great Liverpool players,"
a delighted Jose Mourinho said afterwards. "Now it belongs to [John] Terry,
[Frank] Lampard and [Eidur] Gudjohnsen, and all the guys who contributed.
This was a very good way to celebrate."
Now that's entertainment. Roman Abramovich has apparently been hoping for
more style and Chelsea's owner cannot have been disappointed here. With
Shaun Wright-Phillips, that high-speed spinning top, topping the bill,
Mourinho's players put on a west London show that could have graced the
West End.
Chelsea were terrific, switching between 4-4-2 and 4-2-4 with blue shirts
swamping Birmingham at times. Claudio Pizarro struck an excellent first for
Chelsea; the Peruvian's father was a naval officer, so taking responsibility
at the Bridge clearly runs in the family. Florent Malouda and Michael
Essien also found the mark and Chelsea could easily have had more.
"There was too much entertainment," Mourinho smiled. "We could have scored
six or seven. The wingers produced incredible football, and the strikers
played with great dynamic."
Excitement levels were also heightened by the positive input of Steve Bruce's
visitors. Mikael Forssell and the skilful Olivier Kapo both scored and
troubled Chelsea throughout. "We looked a threat," Bruce said. "I have been
here before and played 1-9-1 and it didn't work. If you sit back, Chelsea will
eventually roll over you. We had a go."
They certainly did, seizing the lead after 15 minutes. The Bridge afforded
Forssell a good reception, and their old boy soon reminded them of his talent.
When Liam Ridgewell helped on Gary McSheffrey's free-kick, Forssell flicked the
ball past Petr Cech.
"Forssell is like signing a new player," said Bruce of a striker bedevilled
by injuries. "To have a natural goalscorer will be invaluable for us."
Commendably, the Finn refused to celebrate his goal out of respect to Chelsea
fans.
Birmingham's own cheers soon died in their throats, as Chelsea came storming
back with a magnificent move. Essien drilled the ball at the lively
Wright-Phillips, who exchanged passes with Malouda. The England winger sped
on and cut the ball back perfectly for Pizarro, who scored from 12 yards.
Colin Doyle was rooted to his line, and failed to keep the ball out.
The entertainment was really only just beginning. Just after the half-hour,
Chelsea took the lead with another quickfire attack. Malouda found Lampard,
who dragged the ball towards Salomon Kalou. He teased the ball into the box
for Malouda, who had continued his run to score with a firm strike past the
exposed Doyle.
The switchback fortunes continued, now highlighting exactly why Chelsea are
pursuing Sevilla's right-back, Daniel Alves. Glen Johnson was caught out on
several occasions, most damagingly after 36 minutes by Kapo, who manoeuvred
the ball around the Chelsea defender before firing an unstoppable left-footed
shot past Cech.
"Kapo gave a terrific performance," enthused Bruce of the recruit from
Juventus who was on loan at Levante last season. "I saw him play four years
ago for Auxerre against Arsenal and he was brilliant. He got his big-money
move to Juventus, but it didn't work out. He's only 26. He's a natural
footballer and will enhance the Premier League."
This match certainly did, Chelsea regaining the lead after 50 minutes.
Malouda, Lampard and Wright-Phillips were involved before Essien bent in a
20-yarder that Doyle should really have stopped. "When you come to Chelsea
you need your goalkeeper to be your best player but he's had one of those
days," Bruce said. "But he was instrumental in us being in the Premier
League so he deserved to be in the team."
Victory still came at a cost to Chelsea as Essien limped away with what
Mourinho described as "knee ligament pain". At least Mourinho promised
that Claude Makelele and Paulo Ferreira would return to training today.
After one record yesterday, Chelsea's coach now sets his sight on a personal
landmark, reaching 100 games unbeaten at home by avoiding a reverse
against Portsmouth on Aug 25. "I'm on 99 and I hope Harry Redknapp doesn't
kill my record because I would love to reach 100," said Mourinho, who last
experienced defeat at home in 2002 when his Porto side lost to Beira Mar.
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