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.
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.
‘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.
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 yesterday after earlier laying out £49m on Raheem Sterling and £32m on Nicolas Otamendi.
‘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.’ – Daily Mail