Defeat at Leeds ended Chelsea's 11-match unbeaten league run from which they had previously taken 25 points and with a visit to Highbury on New Year’s day to look forward to, Chelsea now face a crucial test of character.
Claudio was quick to admit that wholesale changes against both Southampton and then again against Leeds, had contributed to Chelsea’s Christmas slide.
He said: “ After the match, I think this was a mistake.
“Before these two games I didn’t think that. I knew I had 18 players in fantastic condition and with two games in three days, I thought it would be good to bring in the other players. I was wrong because I have only one point from the two games.”
The disappointed head coach then went on to bemoan Chelsea’s reaction to going behind.
“We started and played well until the first goal. Not fantastic but we played with good personality. After the goal it started to go wrong and then after the second goal, everything was wrong. We couldn’t play the right passes. What happened?
“Leeds deserved the result. They were compact and counter-attacked well and it was a good result for them.”
It seems that just as Claudio was beginning to shake off the “tinker man” tag he does his up most to regain it?!? Despite a poor showing over Christmas, and a Claudio that continues to persist with his “tinkering” that leaves most of us scratching our heads in wonder and disbelief, he can’t help but make me smile.
Will we ever work him out?
Let’s just hope that come New Years Day, Chelsea proudly face and stand a test that might just prove to be their benchmark?