The Barclays Premier League for quite some time now has been regarded as the strongest league in Europe. This primarily is down to the number of top class teams that are considered candidates for the title at the start of the season.
However only eleven games into the 2014/15 season and many are claiming Chelsea already have the league wrapped up. The Blues have only failed to win in two games and remain unbeaten, as well as this all those predicted to rival them for the title have endured problematic beginnings to the season. Taking this into account, there are many reasons why the league is far from a certainty for the London side and plenty of work for them to do to ensure it is.
The first issue for Chelsea to consider is an internal one. Ever since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003 Chelsea have been a very wealthy club and have had the luxury of filling their squad with tremendous talents. Yet these days a club side like Chelsea can easy play in excess of 50 games a season in all competitions and injuries to players is inevitable.
Whilst Chelsea have undeniable talent, injuries to certain key players could prove rather problematic. It was quite impressive how Chelsea coped with the loss of Diego Costa, which seemed as though it would be very troublesome, though it is not simply the forward line the lack depth in. A few injuries to Chelsea’s back line, for example, could seriously compromise the team as three of the defenders in Chelsea’s squad are either twenty or younger. One or two injuries to the backline could certainly see Chelsea’s performances wither.
However these issues will possibly be amendable for Chelsea as Abramovich recently announced Chelsea managed to make a €23.2 million profit over the previous financial year. This means that Jose Mourinho will be able to spend quite a bit if need during the January transfer window even with the new Financial Fair Play laws now in motion.
It is also important to acknowledge that while those expected to battle Chelsea for the title are trailing well behind there are still 27 games left in the season and 81 points up for grab. Yet even with this knowledge, the only that is close to Chelsea in terms of the way they are performing is second placed surprise package Southampton. This means that the way things are going for rival teams not even an injury crisis would seriously quell Chelsea’s title hopes, but the fortunes of at least one of these teams is likely to change soon and Chelsea could find themselves with a genuine contender.
Considering two of the previous three Premier Leagues have gone to Manchester City, many considered them favorites when the current season kicked off. Unfortunately for the blue half of Manchester things haven’t gone as planned so far this season. Manchester City have only managed to win six competitive games from sixteen this season but remarkably are still Premier League contenders. This for a handful of reasons.
Firstly all the six games City have won have been in the Premier League. This means that despite playing well below expectation Manchester City lie in third, only eight points behind Chelsea. It is also worth mentioning that they have already played their hardest Premier League games for the first half of the season as the played Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea themselves all in the ten Premier League games. It could also be that their main hindrance in the Premier will soon be gone.
The Champions League has proved a problematic competition for Manchester City in recent years and perhaps due to an aging squad has hurt the side’s Premier League performances as well. Many of City’s key players are reaching the final years of their career and as the loaded calender has proved too much for the side. But as it seems City will cease to progress beyond the group stage and as disappointing as this will be for fans it will allow the sole focus to be on the Premier League and the eight point gap they have to eat away.
There is no doubting Chelsea, at this stage are favorites for the Premier League, but saying they will be winners is premature. While Chelsea’s form is great, complications, specifically injuries, have the power to disrupt this form, even if financial strength can reduce the odds of such complications through transfers. Similarly, while the form of other teams who initially endeavored to challenge for the title is poor, that form can easily change and may well change for Manchester City, whose fixture list may soon look much easier, thus making their Premier League ambitions appear much brighter.
