“Then we saw Chelsea a little nervous then, we created more chances but didn’t look like getting a result from the start”.
Advertisement
The discord on Saturday, though, was clearly between the team and its fans – even as the goals flowed from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro Rodriguez, and Oscar against a Sunderland side marooned in the relegation zone. The home fans in the 41,000-strong crowd rose to their feet for a couple of minutes in an ovation to him. Not only does he have to salvage the club’s season, but he will have to do it while numerous fans still yearn for Mourinho and wish the Portuguese mastermind was never sacked to begin with. Another placard said: “Our Jose sacrificed, why?” Many booed again when he was substituted, as they did when midfielder Cesc Fabregas was taken off.
Tottenham moves fourth, above United on superior goal difference.
Allardyce made a first-half substitution and changed to a four-man defence for the second successive game when he replaced Sebastian Coates, who was at fault for Chelsea’s opening two strikes, with Adam Johnson.
The defender wrote: “We are aware there have been rumours of player power at the club but I want to make it clear that is not the case”. It’s not a dip in form.
For the first time in the game, Sunderland had some momentum and Jermain Defoe and Borini both missed the target, producing mumblings of discontent from the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Mourinho was axed after Chelsea followed up their title win last term with nine defeats from their opening 16 games.
Blues fans, although devastated to lose Joe Mourinho, will have been pleased with the club’s choice for this role after previously experiencing unhappy spells under Avram Grant and Rafa Benitez.
Several banners were unfurled before the match in support of Mourinho, with some directing the blame for Chelsea’s poor run of form at the club’s high-profile players.
When asked whether he will be given time to revive United, Van Gaal said: “It’s not up to me I think to say about that question but we shall see.”
A subdued Holland, propelled into the Stamford Bridge hot seat by Mourinho’s sacking on Thursday, was relieved to guide Chelsea to a 3-1 win over Sunderland in his one game in charge before interim coach Guus Hiddink takes over.
Not everyone was so sympathetic towards Mourinho.
Advertisement
In his last tenure as Chelsea FC’s manager, Hiddink helped lead them to an FA cup, as ESPN FC points out.
