Every sports fan can relate to the feeling of happiness when their team is doing well. They’re playing fantastic, having good results, and the fans come to cheer them on till the end of the match. However every sports fan can also relate to the feeling of frustration they feel when their team is not playing very well. They’re playing sloppy, losing constantly, fans leave disappointed and they need someone to blame for the team’s poor performances. Who is to blame for a team’s poor performance? Recently there has been an English soccer team, named Chelsea FC (Football Club), who has been in the hot seat, as they say. Regardless if you watch soccer or not, the past few months for Chelsea FC have raised numerous questions on who is to blame for a team’s poor performances. But first I'll give you a little background on the subject.
During the 2014 -2015 season in the Barclay Premier League Chelsea FC hired a José Mourinho as a new coach due to the poor performance of the last coach. Chelsea’s 2014 – 2015 season was filled with record breakings, outstanding performances, and trophies. The team was unbeaten at home, went 16 straight matches without a loss, and won the Premier League with a record of 26W-9D-3L. During the season Chelsea was also included in the Capital One Cup Tournament which they also won in a dominant fashion. After their stellar season was over Chelsea FC was basking in glory and success, but no one could’ve imagined the season that they would have this year.
Chelsea prepared for the next season by training their players, introducing a few new players to the team, and scouting their upcoming opponents. Many fans considered the start to the new season to be rather easy based off of their previous season and due to the fact the opponents were relatively bad teams. The season started and within the first five matches Chelsea had only won one match, tied one, and lost the other three. Fans were upset to the poor start to the season but they still believed that the players and the coach would turn things around. Eleven matches later Chelsea FC lost six matches, tied twice, and won only twice too. It would be an understatement to say that the fans were upset at the team’s drastic change in performance. The fans need someone to blame. But who is to blame? The coach for not planning and leading the team to glory, or the players for not making things happen on the field together? After months of disappointment, Chelsea FC’s executives decided their coach, José Mourinho, was the problem. José Mourinho was fired and replaced by Guus Hiddink. After Guus was hired Chelsea played thirteen matches and won six, and tied seven. They’re still struggling but they have drastically improved. The players seem more relaxed and happy despite being in a difficult position, and their individual performances have been slightly more consistent. Was José Mourinho really to blame for the poor performances or were the players to blame for not playing well?
This question could and can be raised for practically any sport. Should the coach be held responsible? The coach is required to lead the team and develop strategies to make the team successful, however the coach can only do so much off the field. The players have the responsibility of going on to the field playing well, and communicating with their teammates. Some fans find it appropriate to blame the coach and others find it appropriate to blame the players, but both parties should share the blame here. A coach can create a perfect game plan and strategy for the team, but if the players aren’t motivated, communicating, or happy then they won’t win matches. A team can have motivated star players, but if they aren’t being well prepared and led by a good coach then there are not going to win matches either. Players don’t win championships and coaches don’t win championships, teams win championships. To be a successful sports team it requires effort and motivation from both, the coaches and the players.
Stats provided by:
"Chelsea Statistics, Match Stats & Facts | Barclays Premier League." Chelsea Statistics, Match Stats & Facts | Barclays Premier League. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
