BPL pacesetters Chelsea failed to douse the catastrophe of their shocking Champions League elimination to 10-man PSG by playing a pulsating 1-1 draw against Southampton at the Bridge Sunday. The Blues appeared to still be suffering from the UCL second round elimination that Soton could have won the game comfortably in the first 45 minutes which saw the hosts struggle for form despite taking the lead on 11 minutes through Diego Costa.

With defending champions and closest rivals, Manchester City, falling to a shock 1-0 defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor, it was thought the Blues would need no more impetus to go for the jugular. However, Jose Mourinho’s boys only came to life in a goalless second half which ensured they are now six points ahead of City, albeit with a game in hand.

Looking back at that hard-earned draw against the enterprising Saints, I can deduce five crucial lessons which could make or mar the Blues in the home run to the title. Happy reading:

COSTA COULD BE MORE DEVASTATING WITHOUT BEING PROVOCATIVE!

BLUES lethal hitman Diego Costa showed the darker side of his game in the insipid UCL elimination to PSG as he unashamedly sought trouble after trouble where none really existed. Rather than concentrate on his game and his undoubted finishing talent, Costa practically left football and went after opponents jugular like a rabid dog.

But three days later, and probably after some chastening by Blues hierarchy, the striker showed his real talent, scoring the opener and coming close to hitting a second against a very good Southampton side. Costa was full of positive endeavour and gave Soton’s well marshaled backline no rest all game long.

It was a refreshing sight. And even while there was a handbag incident with Saints captain Jose Fonte, Costa’s overall positive contribution would compel his harshest critics to dismiss that brief altercation as an insignificant moment of pressure. And to crown it all, he scored a poacher’s header for a good day’s job.

Crucially, Costa has failed to score in most games when he has won his tempestuous toga. Which is why I think he could become more productive for his team if he concentrated only on his football, trying to score goals rather than looking to rile opponents into refs books.

TIREDNESS COULD BE CATCHING UP WITH THE BLUES

WATCHING Chelsea struggle vainly against Southampton and previously against 10-man PSG for 90 minutes, I couldn’t help but reach an inevitable conclusion that the Blues may be suffering from burnout! How is that possible at this stage of the season, one may rightly ask.

But when you remember that Mourinho has played a core of eight to nine players in his starting line-up all season long, then it shouldn’t be difficult understand these players may be operating on their energy reserves at this crucial stage of the campaign. At the moment only Edin Hazard appears not jaded among Mou’s trusted regular outfield players.

And the problem has been on for some time. OK, they defeated Spurs to clinch the Capital One Cup. But careful analysis of that Final would show that Tottenham froze on the occasion against seasoned players paraded by Mourinho. Before John Terry broke the deadlock, Spurs looked the better side, though without cutting edge.

I think Chelsea have been struggling since the turn of the year and many players such Oscar, Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic, Willian, Branislav Ivanovic and Terry needs some rest. Yes, Matic served a two-match ban recently. But that’s not like going on two to three weeks break mid-season. Manchester United’s legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson did this very successfully in his time at Old Trafford while Liverpool’s Brendan Rodgers also did it with Raheem Sterling this season.

Despite Chelsea now only having to concentrate on league games, I still strongly recommend that Mou should find space for some of his key players to trip to the Caribbeans for a couple of weeks mid-season break to recharge their battery. And they don’t need to go all at once, anyway.

HAZARD, COURTOIS WILL BE KEY!

IF MOST Blues are tired and jaded, that cannot be said of two of their youngsters Eden Hazard and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian guardian’s slew of world class saves are one of the reasons Chelsea have been top of the log since week one while Hazard continues to run opponents ragged either from the wings or centre.

These two will be very important to Chelsea’s home run in this campaign. And their influence or lack of it could make or mar the Blues title dreams. Never mind that reigning champions Manchester City have been having a wretched title defense since the turn of the year, truth is any of the chasing pack could surprise Mou and his boys if they complacently thought the crown was secured.
But if Hazard continues flying and Courtois continues his impressive heroics in goal, all should end well for Chelsea that started well.

CUADRADO, REMY NEED GAME TIME!

CHELSEA certainly have an impressive bench that would make a mince meat of many teams. Players like Loic Remy, Fellipe Luis, Juan Cuadrado and Petr Cech would walk straight into the starting line-up of most teams in the world.
But as good as these stars are, they need good game time to maintain sharpness and keep match-fit. Unfortunately, Mou hasn’t rotated his side enough times to give his alternatives a fair crack of the whip. I understand you don’t change a winning team. However, sound management means both the starting XI and the bench are always kept on their toes so that the bench could come to the rescue on few occasions when things become tough for the regular starters.
No player can be expected to dust himself off the bench and become a game changer in an instant without having the benefit of good match practice beforehand. And given Chelsea’s struggle since the turn of the year, the Blues could well do with impact players.
But I’m afraid they won’t have this unless Mou decides to give more play time to his fringe players, most especially Fellipe Luis, Cuadrado and Remy, three players who continue to waste away on Blues bench despite being regular starters at their various clubs.

BLUES COULD BE UNDONE BY BOLD ORGANISED TEAMS

SOUTHAMPTON, like PSG earlier in the week, showed that the Blues could be outplayed, outthought and probably defeated if one dares and is disciplined. Burnley snatched a controversial draw at the Bridge. But there was nothing controversial in PSG’s two legs against Chelsea just as the Saints could have taken Mou’s team to the cleaners in the opening 45 minutes during which they created so many gilt edged chances.

To be honest, I didn’t think Chelsea would beat Soton on Sunday despite their impressive history against the Saints. This is because I have always felt any team which can keep the ball well, play with flair and freedom and be organized at the back while not shy to attack would give these Blues plenty of problems. And looking at the Saints under Ronald Koeman, you know they fall well into that category.

Yes, Chelsea came back into the game in the second half and might have won. However, I thought draw was a fair result because the Saints too could have wrapped up the points had they taken half of the chances they created in the first half.

I still think Chelsea are the favourites for the league crown. But they need to be very careful especially when they meet teams who are ready to play football and not afraid of being beaten. And in their remaining 10 league matches, I can see four or five teams in that category.

So while the Blues hold a good lead at the summit, I don’t think any Blues fateful should be popping Champaign at this stage even if Man City, who many deem to be their only true challengers, are faltering badly. Enough said.