STAR MAN
To surrender the lead once is bad enough. To do it
three times in a week is unforgivable.
Going out of the Carling Cup on penalties at Blackburn
was one they could shrug off. But defeat in the Premier League at
Manchester City suggested that Chelsea might not be quite as good
as they think they are.
Those suspicions were confirmed last night as they were
denied victory yet again by a late APOEL equaliser.
In the grand scheme of things, the loss of two points
is no real handicap to Chelsea's European ambitions. They still
finished top of Group D and remain unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in
their last 30 games.
Yet Carlo Ancelotti fears a disturbing complacency has
crept into his team's play since they crushed Arsenal at the
Emirates at the end of last month. And the Italian knows he must
get to grips with the malaise - before it finishes him
off.
The Chelsea boss does not need reminding Phil Scolari
was given the boot after a not dissimilar run of results earlier
this year. And a £6.5million-a-year contract will be no insurance
against the elbow if things do not improve dramatically.
Qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions
League is the bare minimum for Ancelotti. But Roman Abramovich is
not paying top dollar just to get through to the last 16.
He expects the biggest trophy in European football -
and he is not a man who tolerates failure. It was Ancelotti's
success in lifting the Champions League twice with AC Milan which
landed him the highest-paid manager's job in the world. But he can
forget those lofty ambitions if this week's dismal efforts are
anything to go by.
And now the real hard work starts as Chelsea prepare
for next week's second-round draw in Switzerland. Any illusions
that Ancelotti might have harboured about the strength of his squad
were shattered as they struggled and failed to see off the Cypriot
champions.
Never in his worst nightmares would he have imagined
any team of his being put through the wringer by APOEL Nicosia. Yet
those fears were realised after just six minutes last night when
skipper John Terry was unable to deal with a low cross before
Marcin Zewlakow fired past keeper Ross Turnbull.
For Turnbull, making his first start for Chelsea, it
was a dismal way to begin his Stamford Bridge career even though he
was not to blame. It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded at
home in 968 minutes of action since Stephen Hunt netted for Hull on
the opening day of the season
The noisy Cypriot fans had something to sing about
three minutes from the end when Jon Obi Mikel sold Terry short with
a sloppy pass and sub Nenad Mirosavljevic struck.
Seven goals conceded in the space of seven days by a
team which prides itself on its rock-solid defence. Not good enough
Carlo. Must do better Chelsea.
Ross Turnbull 6
Juliano Belletti 5
John Terry 6
Ricardo Carvalho 6
Yuri Zhirkov 6 - Booked
Jon Obi Mikel 5
Joe Cole 7
Michael Essien 7
Florent Malouda 8 - STAR MAN
Didier Drogba 7
Gael Kakuta 7
SUBS:
Frank Lampard (for Essien) 6
Fabio Borini (for Kakuta) 5
Subs not used: Hilario, Ivanovic,
Bruma, Philliskirk, Anelka.
