The quadruple is now beyond Chelsea FC but there is every reason to expect them to pull away in the English Premier League and be crowned champions this year.
Before the Fourth Round FA Cup tie against Bradford City there was much talk of Jose Mourinho’s men sweeping aside all that lay before them and completing an unprecedented quadruple of trophies: Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and Capital One Cup. We had been here before.
It was only a few weeks before Christmas when the newspapers were full of talk about Chelsea heading towards an unbeaten season in the Premier League. The feat has only been accomplished twice before—first by Preston North End back in the 1888-89 season and, much more recently, by Arsenal FC in 2003-4.
Chelsea were being touted as the new “invincibles” despite not even half a season being played. Alas, it was not to be, as the Stamford Bridge outfit were defeated by Newcastle United on 6th December at St James’ Park, a venue where Jose Mourinho still hasn’t won a match.
With that pressure of their backs, Chelsea regrouped. Because their start to the season has still been impressive on all fronts, talk switched instead to the quadruple. Stamford Bridge has been the home to some of the finest football in the country this season. On the back of a string of fine performances those BPL tickets available are snapped up quickly as fans flock to watch the Blues.
Therefore, one can see why confidence would still be so high that midfielder Cesc Fabregas, following the 3-1 win over Derby County in the Quarter-Finals of the Capital One Cup, would comment that he believed Chelsea had the “talent, discipline and courage” to win all four trophies.
And then, on 24th January 2015, along came Bradford City.
At 2-0 just before half-time, you would have been forgiven for thinking that Chelsea were going to coast to victory. After all, prior to the match, Mourinho had claimed that if his side losing to League One Bradford City would be a “disgrace.”
John Stead pulled a goal back for the Bantams on 41 minutes. A goal that would surely only anger Chelsea and provoke a second half reaction, wouldn’t it? Not a bit of it. Bradford turned in a stunning display to defeat the Premier League leaders 4-2 and dump the Blues out of the FA Cup in one of the competition’s biggest upsets.
There are more important competitions to concentrate on for Chelsea but the defeat is another tug at the veil of invincibility that has shrouded them this season. Mourinho didn’t get his reaction in the second half against Bradford City, but you wouldn’t put it past him to ensure that he does in the coming weeks.
With the business end of the season coming up, perhaps the defeat was another timely reminder against complacency.
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