The Blues currently have Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and summer signing Samuel Eto’o as the three strikers in their first-team squad. However, all three have misfired for the Blues so far, managing a paltry 4 goals in the league between them.
They again failed to find the back of the net as Chelsea succumbed to their third Premier League defeat of the season at Stoke. The Blues have had to rely on their midfield for scoring the goals this season, with Andre Schurrle stepping up with two goals in what ultimately proved to be a losing effort at the Britannia Stadium.
Romelu Lukaku, however, who is currently on a season-long loan at Everton from Stamford Bridge, has blasted 8 league goals in just 11 appearances for the Toffees. His goal scoring prowess has helped Everton be in touching distance of Chelsea, who must be scratching their heads as to why they sent Lukaku out on loan.
With no option of cutting short Lukaku’s loan agreement, Chelsea have been linked with numerous strikers who can score 20 league goals a season. However, Mourinho has put to rest all such rumours by claiming that he will persevere with his current strike force until the end of the season.
According to ESPN, he said, “If you tell me [Sergio] Aguero has scored already 10 or 12 goals, [Alvaro] Negredo 10 or 12 goals, [Edin] Dzeko four or five, Rooney eight or 10, [Olivier] Giroud eight or 10, [Daniel] Sturridge eight or 10, [Luis] Suarez 10 or 12, if you ask me would I like my strikers to score eight-10-12 goals, yes.”
“If we had eight-10-12 goals [from the strikers] we would be top of the league. That’s a reality but my strikers give everything and the team works hard. What can you do more? We work, we keep working. That’s the only way I know is to keep working.”
“Of course we want the best possible results, but I am not waiting for players, I am not asking for players. This is a period for the club and this is a period of my team where we have to try and improve the players we have and try to build a future.”
“It is my squad. For good and for bad it is my squad. Of course it is not the perfect squad, but it is my squad and I work with them until the last day. To criticise does not help me. What do I win by criticising my players? I win nothing.”
Although Mourinho acknowledged that Chelsea are not the favourites for the title, he believes they are one of six contenders who can win it this season. He said, “I think we are one of the six teams that are the six potential contenders for the title. Remember that in the past two years, this team finished 25 points behind the leaders and finished 14 points behind the leaders.”
He added, “We are not speaking with me about my team being champions last year or finished one or two points behind. My team in the last two or three years in December was 15-20 points behind the leaders and I am saying we are building a team, a style of play with the players we have and of course we want the best results.”
The Blues have been consistently linked with a move for Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, with Mourinho a known admirer of the 27-year-old. Although Monaco insist he is not for sale, every player has a price tag.
If Chelsea want to win the league this season, they will need a striker with the quality of Falcao to support their star-studded midfield. Do you think Mourinho should buy a new striker in the January transfer window?