Neil Humphreys: Chelsea must spend or forget about defending title
Chelsea won't retain title if they don't bring in quality reinforcements
Jose Mourinho's handshake routine was as ridiculous as it was transparent.
He needed the Community Shield defeat to degenerate into something silly and trivial.
The focus shifted towards the non-handshake between rivals rather than the non-performance of Chelsea.
In pulling out of the simple gesture with Arsene Wenger, Mourinho pulled off an impressive sleight of hand.
Once again, he had manipulated his audience to distract from his own misgivings.
Mourinho must know that the Blues will struggle to retain the title without strengthening in at least two key positions.
Despite an experienced, well-drilled squad, Chelsea have slipped behind Arsenal and both Manchester clubs in their pre-season purchases.
The Gunners captured the signing of the season in Petr Cech. The other transfer highlights could be divided between Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph at Manchester City and almost every player drawn towards Louis van Gaal's magnetism at Old Trafford.
SHORTCOMINGS
Chelsea haven't been at the races and their manager seems aware of the shortcomings.
Just about every box has been ticked in the miserable Mourinho checklist.
His directed barbs towards Wenger still veer between sarcastic and sadistic.
After a lengthy tour in the United States, the Blues turned up at Wembley short of ideas and match fitness.
Their unremarkable outing undermined their manager's bold claims that Chelsea were ready for the title charge, forcing him to bring out his manipulative box of tricks.
The illusionist usually takes centrestage during the season, but few expected him to put in an appearance in the Community Shield.
Be honest here. When was the last time Mourinho waited at the bottom of a staircase like a fawning servant, bowing and scraping before the victors?
Besides, even if he regularly waits in line to shake the hands of his conquerors - and he most certainly doesn't - it was the Community Shield.
It wasn't the Champions League or even the League Cup, it was a piece of silverware that means less to most professionals than their first trophy playing for the local under-nines.
Mourinho delights in misdirection. He was diverting the audience away from the gaping holes in central midfield and up front, both of which could be filled with a wave of the magic chequebook.
Had an airplane flown across Wembley Stadium with a banner that read, "Loic Remy isn't a Chelsea player", it couldn't have made the point more forcefully than the poor man himself.
The Frenchman toiled in vain, not quite blessed with the subtlety to pick a lock behind Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.
He's a willing, committed understudy, but not one equipped to tread the boards every week in the Premier League.
But the main man was out of action once more. Diego Costa sulked on the bench, shielding his face from the sun and nursing his tender hamstring.
Neither Remy nor Radamel Falcao are likely to come up with the 20 goals - each or even between them - that the robust Costa muscled his way to last season.
Costa's goals won Chelsea the title. Without him, well, do the sums.
Mourinho believes he has enough meat in the sandwich to sustain Chelsea's title defence, but it's the blandish bread on either side that lacks nourishment.
SQUEEZED
Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Willian were squeezed between Remy and Ramires against Arsenal and neither man delivered.
The Gunners exposed Mourinho's midfield predicament. He's caught between a rock (Nemanja Matic) and a hard place (Fabregas is an artist, not an artisan.)
Last season, the relationship worked. But, this time around, Chelsea's rivals have bolstered their creative ranks.
Mourinho threw in an extra defensive body to mind Arsenal's mavericks, but Ramires lacks the guile of Matic. At times, he can move with the grace of a hammer trying to swat flies.
So, if Fabregas drops deep, Chelsea could be exposed defensively next season. If he's pushed into the No. 10 role, as he was at Wembley, he risks being isolated.
Mourinho tackled the conundrum twice against Arsenal and neither tweak paid off. The answers are not to be found on the bench, but in the transfer market.
Another fetch and carrier is required against smarter, inventive opponents, along with a reliable striker.
Costa cannot carry Chelsea for a second time.
And yet, Mourinho still won't move. Instead, he plays daft handshake games with Arsenal's staff to buy time, rather than players.
His hands-off approach might work with Wenger, but it won't work in the transfer market.
No matter if it’s a friendly or a Community Shield, it’s a trophy at the end of the day. It’s horrible. It’s not nice. At the same time, it could be a blessing in disguise for us — a wake-up call.
- Chelsea captain John Terry, on losing to the Gunners
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now