The key element during Arsenal’s “invincible” season of 2003-04 was the fact that the pressure of the record never truly seemed to hang over the players’ heads come match-day.
The same can’t be said for Chelsea as they fell 2-1 to Newcastle at St James’ Park in the lunchtime kick-off today.
The pressure of the circling theory that Mourinho could guide Chelsea to an unbeaten season on his romp to the league title was worn by the Chelsea players like an anchor in the game.
Without taking any credit away from a spirited Toon performance, it appeared that Chelsea’s players defeated themselves but, when you think about it, Mourinho won’t likely be overly bothered.
The Chelsea manager would probably be somewhat relieved to get that monkey off his back because that added pressure plays on the emotions of a team, as much as the Portuguese would like to deny it.
After a scoreless but relatively open first half of action, Chelsea fell behind when a low cross was teased across the front of Thibaut Courtois’ goal before Papiss Cisse got a finishing touch.
1-0 down didn’t seem to set the panic stations blaring too much for Mourinho’s men but that came to an end when Cisse doubled his tally after the ball arrived to him with an open goal and the Senegal striker made no mistake.
Chelsea piled the pressure on Pardew’s well organised side though and Steven Taylor was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.
The breakthrough for Chelsea finally came in the 83rd minute when Didier Drogba got his head to a Cesc Fabregas free-kick to head home.
But the Blues could not find an equaliser, try as they definitely did, and all the talk of going 38 games unbeaten has unceremoniously been laughed off after game 15.
The relieving lifting of that pressure though will undoubtedly strengthen Chelsea’s title bid, rather than hinder it, and don’t let today’s blip lead you to think that Mourinho has any plans on relinquishing top spot any time soon.
