Jose Mourinho said conveniently after the 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa: “It will become more normal for the big teams to lose matches and points.’’

Chelsea’s not-so-Special One explained: ‘’The other teams outside the top four have spent lots of money and brought players in to bolster their teams.Villa are one example but you can find a lot of other examples.”

Excuses, excuses, Jose. This was a game many Chelsea fans expected to be a cakewalk, as did quite a few others, but that was definitely not the case. Villa stayed strong and committed and Chelsea’s tactics were all over the place. It’s one thing saying teams like Villa have got better by spending money but with the money Chelsea have spent over the past few years, they should be consistently on top.

'It’s one thing saying teams like Villa have got better by spending money but with the money Chelsea have spent over the past few years, they should be consistently on top'


Maybe this game was just a blip, with Martin O’Neill outdoing his opposite number. Villa had the home advantage, Villa Park being a bogey ground for Chelsea since 1999.

The impending internationals could have been impetus for some of Villa’s England hopefuls to shine, notably Gareth Barry and the impressive Ashley Young. Zat Knight was making his debut alongside Martin Laursen and both were challenging for a centre-half place. So it could be said the Villa men had more desire to win on Sunday - and it showed.

That should be Mourinho’s excuse. His team were beaten on the day; Villa were far more up for the challenge and Chelsea hate playing at Villa Park. To say the Big Four won’t reign supreme is, I feel, not quite right.

Excuses aside, this is the kick up the backside some of the misfiring Chelsea players need to get a grip on this year’s title hunt. They will definitely respond.

Mourinho makes out that this result marks the beginning of a new, more balanced Premier League. I don’t think so. Look at the top four in the league already - with the exception of Everton, it’s the usual look! United will be back, firing on all cylinders soon enough and you just know Chelsea will make their next opponents pay for their first defeat of the season. Liverpool have been impressive, even without the incredible Steven Gerrard, and Arsenal haven’t seemed out of place after losing Thierry Henry.

Everyone predicted Spurs to be in with a shout to upset the Big Four hierarchy but they seem to be repeating last year’s impressive build-up and lacklustre finish.

Sven-Goran Eriksson started so brightly at Manchester City but two defeats on the trot isn’t good enough.

Of course, we are only five games into the season and it would be naïve to make too many predictions just yet. But you can’t help feel that the Big Four will always be on top.

Is Mourinho right in his claim that the big boys will lose more matches in future? Post your comments below or submit an article to Sportingo.