- Reigning Premier League champions Chelsea's title defence has got off to a far from ideal start this season and they sit 13th in the table
- Chelsea fell to a 2-1 defeat by Crystal Palace at home on Saturday
- Blues boss Jose Mourinho has hit out at several of his star players from last term and warned them that they are not exempt from criticism
- Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic are believed to be particular players with which Mourinho is disappointed
Jose
Mourinho holds Eden Hazard among those responsible for Chelsea's
stuttering start and promised to not think twice about wielding the axe
following their shock home defeat by Crystal Palace.
Hazard,
who made the clean sweep of the Player of the Year awards last season,
was accused of underperforming after Palace became only the second team
to beat Mourinho's Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Barclays Premier
League.
Mourinho,
who last month described Hazard as better than Cristiano Ronaldo,
criticised the 24-year-old winger, saying: 'If you are the best in the
league, I think it should be a good responsibility to have a similar
season than in the previous season.
Last season's PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard (centre) has failed to reach similar heights so far this term
Hazard has been warned that he is not immune to the prospect of being sold if he does not improve
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been left decidedly unimpressed by several of his players this season
'I
don't want to analyse individual performances. In general terms, it is
difficult to have a consistent performance when some of the players are
not performing at a good level. When you have six or seven performing
and three or four who are not at an acceptable level, it is hard for a
team to be consistent in the performance.'
The four below-par players are understood to be Branislav Ivanovic, Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic and Hazard.
Mourinho
added: 'You have players who have fantastic seasons and fantastic
moments and the next season do not have the same. If you ask me, 'Will I
accept this and wait calmly for the performance level to be back?' No.
'I
have to work, react, analyse and if I feel the players are not in
conditions to react and give more, I have to make changes. I have never
had a problem with that.'
Joel
Ward's winner condemned Mourinho to defeat in his 100th league match at
home, meaning Chelsea have begun their title defence with four points
from four games, leaving them eight behind leaders Manchester City.
It
makes it an uncomfortable international break for Mourinho with his
side in the bottom half of the table. The next match is on September 12
against Everton, whose resilience over John Stones has seen Chelsea turn
their focus elsewhere.
Cesc Fabregas is another player in Mourinho's firing line after a sub-par showing against Crystal Palace
Defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic (centre) has also come in for criticism and was taken off against Palace
Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic has struggled for form and may end up being dropped or sold in due course
It
is no secret their defence requires attention. Chelsea have conceded
nine in their opening four games — their worst record since 1971 — and
were repeatedly exposed by Palace.
Palace
boss Alan Pardew revealed how his masterplan to target Chelsea right
back Ivanovic had enabled him to become the first manager to earn a
hat-trick of wins over Mourinho.
Pardew
told Bakary Sako, Wilfried Zaha and then substitute Yannick Bolasie to
attack down the left wing. He said: 'We doubled up on Ivanovic in the
first half with Sako and Wilf. It worked for us for a little bit. Then
Yala Bolasie came on and did the same.'
Mourinho
hinted that he feels Chelsea do not offer him the same 'economic
potential' as City, who spent £52million on Kevin de Bruyne on Sunday
after earlier laying out £49m on Raheem Sterling and £32m on Nicolas
Otamendi.
Manchester City have completed the £52million signing of winger Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg
City also signed Raheem Sterling (left) for £49m from Liverpool earlier this summer
'City
reacted to the fact they had lost the title by buying fantastic
players,' Mourinho said. 'They are buying more until the end of the
market. This is their job and if they have the economic potential to do
that, good.
'You
see my players on the pitch and could identify two or three players
that can do better. That is what we have to do. It is not the point to
be loyal. It is to analyse if they are ready to give an answer and fight
against that bad form.'
Mourinho
also indicated a handful of Chelsea's squad are resting on their
laurels. Asked how he can stave off a lack of appetite, he said: 'If
that is the case, it is very sad. When I win, I want to win again. If
you win it once and the next you are not on fire, that is sad. My medal
is at home. In a drawer.'
City were able to sign defender Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia ahead of their rivals Manchester United
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SOCCER