Fans of one of the title challengers should definitely be worried about the comments and demeanour of their manager this morning. And this is not a reference to Rafa Benitez.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's hangdog expression as he spoke immediately after his side's 3-0 capitulation at Old Trafford, a game Jose Mourinho watched impassively, will add to the sense of alarm at Stamford Bridge over a season that is threatening to unravel.
"I think it has done some very big damage because we didn't come here to play like this," Scolari said, looking tired and grey, almost as if he had taken a literal beating. It is difficult to imagine the Inter manager being so limp in the face of such a setback.
While Benitez's attack on Sir Alex Ferguson on Friday - repeated on Saturday - may prove in the long run the moment that he lost it (and the title), the fighting spirit on display was surely more reassuring to Liverpool fans than the muted noises coming from the Brazilian were to Blues.
Liverpool badly need consistency to maintain their challenge, but failed to maintain winning form at Stoke, coincidentally or not after some tinkering to the line-up. Of late, Chelsea have found some consistency, but not the good kind.
The comparisons between Benitez with Kevin Keegan in 1996 are misplaced for one transparent reason - KK came unhinged publicly with the title almost lost, a double-digit lead turned into a deficit despite the 1-0 win at Leeds that prompted his finger-jabbing attack. Liverpool are still league leaders and may yet be so by the time they next play, even though Manchester United are in a position to take a one-point advantage by beating Wigan then Bolton this week.
Chelsea are four points behind Liverpool now, a potential five behind United and with one of their direct chances to strike a rival turned into an embarrassment. "Don't think if we lose one game we are finished," Scolari said in the press conference.
"We have 17 games left and we will fight to the last." That's not so bad, though it has not been about one game, but a poor run.
"You never know what will happen but if we play like we did today for the next three or four games we will not win. But now is the time for me and the players to think about the future. We can lose everything or we can be men and we can improve."
More negativity, with a hint of desperation. These words came later, after Scolari had had a chance to reflect on both the defeat and the effect of his instant comments - yet still the Brazilian is mired in the downbeat. There are indeed 17 games left; there's the FA Cup and the Champions League, too. But Chelsea have taken a step back from last season, a campaign that ended in dismissal for Avram Grant.
Scolari is under mounting pressure and he knows it. His side are short of inspiration - and they are not getting any from the manager, on this showing.
* * * * * * * *
"When he reflects on it he must realise what he is saying is ridiculous. He is obviously disturbed about something." Sir Alex Ferguson's comments on Benitez's Friday rant - brought to you live and exclusive on Sky Sports.
That's not an advertisement for this site's ultimate owners, but an observation on Ferguson's own character and a reminder that the Manchester United boss has issues of his own.
The continued ridiculous boycott of the BBC by Ferguson, for what was an accurate piece of reporting about the activities of his agent son Jason, indicates that there is something disturbed about the Manchester United manager.
At the end of this interview with Sky he said "well done" to his interlocutor, which should be disturbing to the rest of us. This has happened before, with Fergie congratulating a reporter who has asked him softball questions. One notable example a couple of seasons ago came when Spurs were victims of a controversial decision. It was the principal subject of the conversation with Martin Jol; it was not raised with Fergie.
Benitez was challenging - perhaps in an unwise manner - the deference shown to Ferguson, by the FA and the media. Some of what he said was plainly foolish - it was easy to prove that the Liverpool manager had complained about the specific fixture issue he said he had not commented on, a run of lunchtime away games.
But while the papers were quick to analyse this aspect of his remarks and make comparisons with others who have suffered in duels with the Manchester United manager, there was little introspection. It wouldn't do for the rest of the media to examine their own dealings with Fergie, and how cowed they are lest they be subject to the kind of ban the BBC continues to suffer.
Philip Cornwall
They Should Worry About The Boss
Now let's hear what you've got to say about this item... or anything else happening in the world of football. Send in your opinions, rants, praise or abuse to: theeditor@football365.com
Other Stories
- 16 Thoughts On Ronaldo's Madrid Move
- England U-21s Now A Passing Phase
- RVP Link Shows Arsenal At Crossroads
- Fixtures? Is Last Season Over Yet?
- End-Of-Season Review: The Rivals
- End-Of-Season Review: Third/Fourth
- End-Of-Season Review: The Chasers
- End-Of-Season Review: Also-Rans
- Fabio Teaching Us All To Be Better...
- F365's View Of The England Boys...
Your Comments
harryboulton
"Fergie may have issues but issues are easy to forgive when you're winning silverware. If Benitez fails to win the title this yeat some may claim that he allowed his issues to get in the way of his goals. Both are just indulgin in a spate of "handbags" if you ask me, but there's no doubt that Ferguson is speaking from a place of untouchability as far as his job and status are concerned. Benitez's is not. Already the mdeia are portraying him as a clwon of sorts and that is not a good sign. Once the mass media turn, it's hard to get them back on side. If he fails to win the league this year, questions will be asked of him. If Fergie fails, people wikll simply prepare themselves for another crack next season."
porto
"Its clear Scolari has lost it. Same for the tired old Chelsea brigade. Since they cant defend corners why not put 2 players on each side of the post."
mshoosain
"Mr Benitez's raving rant has for the start only proved one thing. He's awoken the "Red Devil" which has been asleep since August 2008. Now you'll see the real title challengers. Liverpool can only blame themselves for not taking advantage of this five month opportunity (a huge opportunity of 21 games to be at least a further 12 points ahead). Why could'nt "Mr Rafael Benitez" (no pun intended) shut his mouth and play the game on the pitch (like Mr Mourinho and Mr Wenger did during their title challengers). Let me add, mind games are the norm in modern professional foootball, but the attack by Mr Benitez on Friday is nothing other than plain stupidity. He's even more ridiculous by continuing on Saturday by his attack on Mr Gill. Hasn't anybody told him of "Let sleeping dogs ("devils", I might add) lie". Mr Ferguson was looking for a wake up call and he received it (what timing) from the most unlikely source. Mr Benitez is a likeable fellow, but pressure makes you do the most unthinkable of things. So long fellows! See you at the finished line!"
Mutid
"As to Scolari - Big Phil McCrevis is being found out and Roman's bloody axe is hovering. Next up: Slaven Bilic anyone? His exes seem to be doing well elsewhere - seems like a tough tyrannical overlord, I mean boss, to please... Ranieri took Chelsea further than they'd ever been and got a great squad together: CHOP! Mourinho wins two leagues on the trot: CHOP! Grant takes them to the brink of Double greatness despite internal strife: CHOP! There's wanting to emulate Real Madrid's winning style and then there's falling foul of Real Madrid's Galatico / manager's merry-go-round style. He's worse than Henry VIII..."
Mutid
"This website spends half its time rightly slagging off the Beeb for being the shower of sh1te it is; if SAF doesn't want to entertain them, that's his prerogative and well done to the man for not sucking up to THEM. The rest defer to him because he is one of the greatest to ever grace the game, and he knows there's more to winning at football than kicking a ball into a goal. As to SAFs own issues - he's canny enough and man enough to move on whenever he makes a mistake and get back to winning. I was calling for his head when all the RoG guff blew up, thinking he was damaging the club, along with buying Veron and shoe-horning Scholes into the team as an afterthought, not replacing Schmaichel or Keane, etc, etc... HOWEVER: The man is a LEGEND and so f*ck all the rest. They are the FACTS, McRakealot."
executiveKoala
"When Avram Grant was in charge and Chelsea were still in the hunt for trophies, media annalists insisted that the team were managing themselves, led by brave John Terry and that grant was useless. Perhaps Grant - not the celebrity the English media craves - wasn't so bad after all. "
nickswfc
"Thinking about it, the BBC ban is probably one of Fergie's best weapons. Softball approach to him and his antics from the media influencing public opinion that he's not so bad and Benitez is a lunatic. That being said, Benitez is a bit of a silly waiter for coming out with comments putting pressure on United and not sticking Torres on to blow Stoke away in the first half hour and send a message on the pitch to rival his message off it. Now he looks like he's lost the plot and the players can't be arsed. Well played Rafa..."
Griff
"McFunkalot: muck-raking doesn't necessarily imply falsehood, it means digging up unsavoury information for the chief purpose of discrediting someone. (I would, however, concede that these "facts" had somewhat more substance than what Benitez describes as such.)"
LISTEN_MUPPETS
"Funny thing is i haven't heard any of the media refer to Fergie's 'rant' as yet. Benitez pointed out a few facts in a quite calm and lucid manner, even mentioning his respect for ol' whisky nose. In return Fergie was offensive, and attacked Benitez on a personal level and using personal insults - the last refuge of those who have already lost the argument."
monkeybusiness
"We are manchester united and we deserve every nice thing that media FA does for us , not that it is true , but if you say so , heck then yeah thank you.
For pete's sake we are champions of europe , champions of the world, we are the best english premier league have got. So yeah if you are nice, it is only right.Don't be so hard on yourselves, its ok"
All comments on this story