Titles are not won or lost in August, but the manner in which Chelsea has begun its defense of the Premier League could hardly be more encouraging to its rivals. Held 2-2 at home by Swansea City a week ago, and blitzed 3-0 at Manchester City on Sunday, is the worst start to a new season that Chelsea has made since 1998.
Some of the pain appears to be self-inflicted. The team manager, José Mourinho, cast in the role of the Machiavelli of soccer, wasted too much energy over the week by feuding with his medical staff over a simple matter of a player needing treatment on the field.