Chelsea lose again

English Premier League champions Chelsea suffered their second defeat in three days after they fell 0-1 to Seria A side Fiorentina at Stamford Bridge in their final pre-season friendly before the start of the new season. The EPL champions were not at their fluent best as Jose Mourinho made wholesale changes to the team that started in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

Amongst those that came in from the start were Asmir Begovic, Radamel Falcao, two youngsters at full back, academy product Ola Aina at right back, Betrand Traore at left back, which is not his natural position. Both Mikel Obi and Victor Moses started the match, while Oscar and Rueben Loftus-Cheek, John Terry and Kurt Zouma were in the first eleven on the night.

Fiorentina got the only goal of the night in the 34th minute through captian Rodriguez, after putting in a rebound from a lose ball in the penalty area.

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea have had an indifferent pre-season, losing to New-York Red Bulls, drawing with Barcelona, losing to Arsenal, before tonight’s defeat to the team that finished fourth in the Italian top flight last season.

While this piece explained the likely weaknesses in the Chelsea team and by extension its squad, this was obvious on Wednesday by the players Mourinho used to start in the full back positions. And the nature of the squad creates a picture where the first eleven represents a position of strength rather than the entire squad.

If the first 45 minutes belonged to Chelsea's second string, the second half saw the introduction of the players that will start in the Premier League opener against Swansea on Saturday, although they could do little to turn the tie around on the night.

Nothing can be read into results in friendly matches, as Chelsea will likely turn it around when the season starts in earnest. Though, with the season starting in three days time, the players seem to be feeling the effects of their long pre-season trips in America.

With Swansea the visitors this weekend at the Bridge, all will be forgotten as Jose Mourinho will look to begin the journey to retain the Premier League title his team won last season.

While the season opens, it is clear that the West London outfit would be looking to bring in some reinforcements in defence before the transfer window shuts on September 1st.

Chelsea line up against Fiorentina

Asmir Begovic; Ola Aina (Ivanovic 46mins), Kurt Zouma, John Terry (Cahill 46), Betrand Traore (Azpilicueta 46); Obi Mikel (Matic 46), Rueben Loftus-Cheek (Ramires 58); Victor Moses (Willian 58), Oscar (Fabregas 58), Juan Cuadrado (Hazard 58); Radamel Falcao (Remy 58)