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We are almost two months into the European football season and some of the top teams in the continent are not having it as they would have wished. Coming into this campaign with a lot of high hopes as usual, these teams have struggled to show the football expected from them. Although time is still on their side with 7 months to go till the end of the season, the fans of these clubs will be hoping that things return to normal as soon as possible. Here are 5 European teams who have had a terrible start to the 2014-15 season (in no particular order):
#1 Athletic Bilbao
For the all-Basque team of Athletic Bilbao, last season was simply wonderful. Defeating Barcelona and drawing with Real Madrid were only some of the highlights of a great campaign that saw Ernesto Valverde's charges finish fourth in the league and qualify for the Champions League. Until that point, it seemed things were fine and not even losing Ander Herrera to Manchester United could take the gloss off the potential of making it big in Europe.However, two months into the new season and Bilbao find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of the La Liga relegation zone. The San Mames outfit have lost five of the seven games played so far, leaving fans and pundits bewildered. Some have pointed to Bilbao's Basque-only transfer policy as a reason; they couldn't use the money from the Herrera sale or the prospect of Champions League football to get the top non-Basque names in the market to come and play in the north of Spain. This inability to strengthen the squad ahead of a gruelling schedule of domestic and continental football meant that Bilbao started with a weakened team while rivals reinforced theirs. Also, proven players such as Susaeta, Benat, De Marcos, Balenziaga and Iraola have been unimpressive, adding to the problems.
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#2 Everton
After the highs of a 2013-14 season that saw them flirting with Champions League qualification, Everton Football Club have now sunk to the lows of 17th place in the Premier League. It's still early days and the Toffees can still turn things around. But 17th place after seven games does not bode well for any team, more so for a team like Everton.
Roberto Martinez did brilliantly with some smart moves in the transfer market and great attacking football to earn plaudits in his first season at charge in Goodison Park - no point of argument there. But one summer break later, the same man seems lost in the dugout as his team crumble in front of him. The most pressing of concerns is undoubtedly a backline that has let in 16 goals so far (the worst record in the league). The tired legs of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin have come close to their end days. Keeper Tim Howard's form has not helped either. The American may have impressed at the World Cup, but he has been a completely different person on his return to Merseyside. The absence of last year's breakthrough sensation Ross Barkley has also hit the team hard in the final third. The 20-year old suffered a medial collateral ligament injury in August and is slated to return later this month - which will give Evertonians a ray of hope.
#3 Borussia Dortmund
They say Jurgen Klopp is never a defeated man; he has a spirit that keeps him up and running. But not even his spirit can lift his Borussia Dortmund side this season. The team are nowhere near the early Bundesliga pace as they sit in 13th place, 10 points away from table toppers Bayern. They have shipped 12 goals and lost four matches already. Even Klopp is at a loss for words to explain this.Analysing the fall of the German giants, one is tempted to think that the injury crisis, which has ruled out Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Ilkay Gundogan, is the prime reason. But it may not really be so. Klopp has at his disposal a squad that has considerable depth, with players of enough quality to cover for the first XI in all the departments. The current situation has more to do with Dortmund players simply not playing to the best of their abilities. Up front, shooting and crossing have been woefully inaccurate, and coupled with costly individual mistakes, they have left the team struggling to register wins. Back in defence, Klopp has been able to play his preferred centre-back pairing of Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic but this hasn't stopped the goals. Closing this leak is Klopp's primary task if he is to pull his team back to where they belong.
#4 AS Monaco
When a billionaire buys a club and spends millions bringing top quality players to the team, one easily expects big things. And AS Monaco did deliver big things in 2013-14. In their first season back in the top flight, they secured second place and Champions League qualification – a great start to a dream project. Unfortunately, one look at the current Ligue 1 table makes it seem that the project has a very short lifespan. At the beginning of the new season, the club management suddenly decided that it would be best for the team to sell three of the team’s top players: Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and Eric Abidal. That was only one of the many bizarre decisions that Monaco have taken in their effort to build on last season’s achievements. The results have been such that we are forced to question the club’s intentions. The decision to replace coach Claudio Ranieri was a bad one; the idea of disintegrating a good team was even worse. The word ‘self-destruction’ would be an understatement. Sitting in 13th place after a number of below par displays, Monaco have had their new coach Jardim put up a brave face and defend the team’s football but it doesn’t hide anything. Monaco’s players have been bad and apparently low on morale, surely uninspired by an indifferent management.
#5 Inter Milan
After all of Inter Milan’s troubles in recent years, last season was one to remember in many ways. Although they missed out on a Champions League place, the fifth place finish under new coach Walter Mazzarri last season was a breath of fresh air. Most importantly, the arrival of new owner Erick Thohir meant that the fans of the Nerrazzurri had a lot to look forward to in 2014-15.
However, six games into the campaign, Inter are in 10th place, with ten points less than leaders Juventus and just five points away from the drop zone. After the reitrement of Javier Zanetti and the departure of Esteban Cambiasso to Leicester City, this was supposed to be the season where young blood would step up to take Inter back to the top but nothing of that sort has materialised. Instead, a series of inconsistent displays have had the opposite effect. The mood is one of distrust and confusion. Mazzarri has gone on record indirectly hinting at problems within the dressing room, whereas former Inter greats Sandro Mazzolla and Angelo Domenghini have bemoaned the side’s lack of character and determination. After the 4-1 defeat at home to minnows Cagliari, Inter were whistled off the pitch by their fans – never a good sign. Mazzarri urgently needs to lift his side’s spirits if he is to stop the rot and the whistling.
