Chelsea Finally Lose, but No Need to Panic for Jose Mourinho and His Players

It was inevitable, according to Jose Mourinho—impossible to the rest of us.

Believe it or not, Chelsea can lose football matches.

At least now, following their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, all the talk of becoming the Premier League's second set of "Invincibles" can be put to bed.

Records are on hold and we can return to something resembling a debate.It was all hype anyway, a creation of the media that Chelsea's manager often tried to deflect.

Chelsea dropped three points for the first time since April 19, when Sunderland recorded the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge last season. Like then, Mourinho needs a reaction from his players.

The set up is similar. That loss was followed by a Champions League outing, with Premier League commitments back on the agenda thereafter.

Chelsea face Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday before a home game against struggling Hull City. The stakes were higher in April—it was Atletico Madrid in a semi-final followed by that trip to Anfield to play Liverpool—but the outcome needs to be the same.

The Sunderland defeat was a massive shock, but then look where it took Chelsea—to the top of the Premier League.It closed one door on Mourinho's men, who then showed enough character to not just open others, but knock them down.

Chelsea are unrecognisable from the team we saw last season. The Newcastle defeat aside, they have been clinical, entertaining and, above all else, ruthless.

They are the embodiment of their manager.

In December, the Premier League table is telling us porkies. Big fat lies.However, it's of no concern to Mourinho. Regardless of the team City field each week, he knows what Chelsea are capable of achieving.

Mourinho has seen it all season, and against Newcastle, he witnessed it again at St James' Park.

Chelsea's defeat didn't come about through them being outplayed or outmuscled. It was a combination of many things, namely ill fortune and meeting a team in their best form this season.

To the home side's nine shots, Chelsea had 26. They dominated with 66 per cent of the possession and carved out the best openings.


Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2291417-southampton-v-manchester-united-issues-and-decisions-that-will-shape-epl-game