Does Mourinho’s Chelsea have a weakness?

Sunday's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal was a rarity for Chelsea. The Premier League champions do not suffer lots of defeat, least of all to an Arsenal team managed by Arsene Wenger whom they were unbeaten against in 13 previous matches, before Sunday's match.

With the 2015/2016 season kicking off this weekend, Chelsea have again been installed by the bookies and football pundit as the favourite to retain their title. Prior to their triumph last season, the team already had an existing core of players, and their strength was a settled defence. The additions of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas was the principal reason they won the title as it increased their attacking efficiency, together with the displays of Eden Hazard, who won both players’ of  the year award for his performance.

However, with Chelsea's inability to put the ball in the back of the net against Arsenal, and the fact that they are a different team without Diego Costa, the question then is whether they could be said to have a weakness any opposition can exploit?

On the face of it, it could easily be said that the team lacks a weakness in his first eleven when everybody is fit. Although, the continuous use of Caesar Azpilicueta as a left back when he is a natural right back, despite his solid performance in his unnatural position could count as a weakness especially as he could find it difficult to cut out certain balls that is diverted to his weaker left foot. This was evident by the way Oxlade-Chamberlain moved the ball to his left before letting fly to score on Sunday. Being a right footer, his ability to adjust his body quickly enough could have affected his reaction.

That aside, the quality of the backups at Chelsea calls into question whether indeed there is no weakness in the squad. It was clear on Sunday that the dynamism and nonchalance that Diego Costa brings to the front line was missing. Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao had 45 minutes to show what they could offer in the absence of the big Spaniard, but both did little to suggest that they could be adequate replacement for him in the event that he was sidelined for a long period. It was evident that there were few crosses from Chelsea in the absence of Diego Costa, apparently, oblivious of the fact that those on the field do not thrive on crosses. The few crosses that came in were instead met by Ramires whose runs from midfield were not picked up.

In the absence of Diego Costa, Chelsea lacks a striker who can sufficiently offer what he would, and opposition defences are bound to breath easy in his absence.

During Chelsea's post season tour of Thailand and Australia in early June, Jose Mourinho claimed that few players were better than Ivanovic, Matic and Diego Costa in their position. And he went further to assert that his Chelsea side was the best.

When the players he mentioned while the team was away in Asia are taken out of the equation, it becomes a different side entirely.

For all of Chelsea's solidity as a unit and a well drilled and organised team that comes from the manager, the team still relies heavily on the individual brilliance of Eden Hazard to unlock certain teams. When the Belgian is not on song, Chelsea usually struggles. While the addition of Cesc Fabregas last season offered more opportunity for that burden to be shared, Jose Mourinho's pragmatism means he has had to sacrifice some flair to bring defensive stability to his team. With Cesc Fabregas struggling at times to have an impact when he is played in the No 10 role, it means Mourinho would have to deploy him more in a deeper role alongside Matic, where he would be more influential, and that has its own negative effect, as the team would not be solid defensively as he Jose Mourinho would want.

Little wonder that Oscar has gradually become more of an impact sub, rather than a first team player, as the manager has opted for the energy and defensive qualities of the tireless Ramires and Willian. Both might not offer the goal threat that Oscar offers, but they are definitely sure starters in Mourinho's team.

It does not come as a surprise that Ramires has often played on the right wing when another attacking midfielder is brought in because of the protection he offers defensively.

While those of Chelsea persuasion would prefer for the team to bring in a natural right winger, it is unlikely to happen, as Jose Mourinho has displayed a penchant for selling players who he feels offers little defensively while bringing in players that he thinks can do that just like Mo Salah and Andre Schurrle were sacrificed for Juan Cuadrado.

Chelsea have one of the smallest squad amongst the top teams, and the fact that they had the fewest injuries amongst the top six last season meant the size of the squad was not an issue.

However, it remains to be seen whether there would be another safety neat of a largely injury free season in the new campaign.

With the transfer window still open, Chelsea's reinforcement might likely be in defence, a position they are already solid in. The pursuit of John Stones from Everton is still on, as well as a left back to replace the departed Felipe Luiz.

As it stands, it is difficult to identify any clear weakness in Chelsea's armoury, except when Diego Costa is absent. The weakness is more in the squad than in the team (first eleven) itself, where there might not be adequate replacement for some key first team players in the event of injury.