I think it’s fair to say that at Chelsea, we’re pretty sore losers. I don’t think that’s always been the case, in fact in the days before Roman Abramovich and certainly back before Ken Bates bestowed the gifts of Gullit, Zola, Vialli and the like on us, it’s something we accepted as part and parcel of a season. In more recent times though, losing is something we’ve stopped being accustomed to – and we simply don’t like it.
Jose Mourinho didn’t help really, I mean, the man just didn’t know when he was beat and it was a mentality he instilled in each and every player who stepped out onto the pitch for him. It worked too because during his era, we just knew the results would come – in fact, we expected it to the point we were probably as arrogant as he was. Our players certainly believed they were unbeatable and it was a mindset that saw us win many-a-game at the death as they refused to give up before the fat lady belted out an aria – obviously that equates to the ref blowing his whistle but I’m allowed some dramatic licence here!
That never-say-die attitude hasn’t always been quite as evident since Mourinho’s departure though and I feel no shame in admitting that when defeats have come, I’ve possibly been one of the sorest losers there is. Fair enough, once the dust has settled I can hold my hands up and accept it might have been our performance that’s cost us, but that’s usually only after I’ve blamed everything from refereeing conspiracies to full-on witchcraft and opposition hexes.
That inability to accept defeat is something Michael Essien completely understands, with our midfielder suggesting “Chelsea players and fans are in a privileged position of not suffering too many defeats so it’s always a bitter pill to swallow when we lose games. As players and as a club we work hard to win every game and we tend to win most of them but every so often we lose games like the Inter one and it hurts so much. I was on the bench watching the guys work hard to defeat Inter till Eto’o scored. At that moment I could feel the pain and disappointment in the stadium. I could see how hard the players were pushing to try and save the game and as the minutes ticked by I started to get that sinking feeling. I watched the highlights of the game on TV the next day and can still remember a little boy crying his eyes out and being consoled by his mum because we had been knocked out again. It’s such an awful feeling and I am sure most Chelsea fans felt the same after the game.”
Personally, that defeat to Mourinho probably stands out as one of my most painful nights this season but Essien has some advice to heal those wounds, stating “After a defeat I think you need some ‘TLC’ so cuddle up to your loved one so they can show some sympathy and console you. It will make you feel better and ease your pain. However if you are single and don’t have a loved one then this option is not for you – sorry! If you are prone to losing your temper after a Chelsea defeat then the option for you has to be the one my brother adopts. Go straight to your room and go to bed. This should help you avoid damaging someone or something. You will feel better after a while and whatever you do please stay calm! My final tip is whatever you do stick with Chelsea because the next win is always round the corner after a defeat. As players we are taught and conditioned to overcome such disappointments quickly. It’s not because we don’t care but more importantly we have to move on quickly so it doesn’t affect our next performance. As a player you have to rise above defeat so you are mentally prepared for the next game. We have the ‘bouncebackability’ mentality and as you saw after the Inter game we won against Portsmouth and Aston Villa convincingly and beat Manchester United 2 – 1.”
And he’s spot on, because whilst his tips didn’t give this loveless supporter any TLC that night, or make the blindest bit of difference to the teenager stamping his feet up the stairs before burying his head under a pillow for the night, Chelsea’s response in the games since that defeat have ensured the scars aren’t as red and angry as they were at the time.
Michael Essien, who is rumoured to be ready for a return in our game against Liverpool, offers a final word of consolation saying “To the little boy who was crying his heart out after the Inter game, I hope you are feeling better now. I am proud of you for showing such true emotions for your team. I hope we win something for you this season to keep the tears away.”
Mind you, with it as tight at the top of the table as it is this season and the difficult run-in we have, here’s one supporter who won’t be putting the tissues away just yet!
Blue is the colour
