Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0:THE REHABILITATION of Chelsea's league season is under way at last, though recent toils dictate even comfortable success is greeted with caution these days. "It's too early to say we've turned the corner," said Didier Drogba. "This was a vital three points but let's win four or five consecutive games and then we can speak about the title again."
The recovery is in its infancy but this was a return of sorts to the old routine. It was not the swashbuckling form that had seen the champions run up cricket scores against all-comers for a giddy period either side of last summer but the relentless, grinding Chelsea built on solid defensive foundations that had been their trademark. Blackburn were softened up by Chelsea’s first-half battering, with a pair of late goals from set pieces chiselling out a deserved victory.
Maintaining momentum at Bolton next Monday will be imperative if the title defence is not to fizzle out. By then the champions will hope to have added to their options in the transfer window and made progress in securing their goalscoring centre-half Branislav Ivanovic to new terms at the club.
The Serb scuffed in the opener on Saturday, then supplied Nicolas Anelka with his first Premier League reward since they won at Ewood Park in October. The centre-back’s strength has been a constant in an inconsistent campaign, with the club’s desire to extend his stay beyond the final 18 months of his contract understandable.
“I want to stay and I hope it will be sorted out soon,” Ivanovic said. “We are talking about my new contract but we will see in the next couple of weeks. Things are going the right way. This is all I can say. Carlo has been great for me and has changed my career. I will always be grateful to him, so I hope he will be here for a long time. We have changed our character. Everyone has been a little bit angry about the things that have happened and we want to show our real power.”
Blackburn will do the same as they seek to distance themselves from the condemned. Steve Kean flew to Mumbai yesterday to meet Rovers’ owners, the VH Group, and discuss potential purchases before the end of the month. The USA international midfielder Jermaine Jones will complete his loan move from Schalke today, with other arrivals expected.
“The meeting will be a chance to give them a progress report and see what we can do in the window,” Kean said. “They are going to back the signings and that can only be good for the club.”
They already look equipped to avoid trouble. Roque Santa Cruz will be more of a threat once he has regained match sharpness and the defence stood admirably firm until concentration wavered near the hour. They ended trampled by Chelsea’s first step on the road to recovery.
