Another frustrating away day for Chelsea saw the Blues fall 2-0 to a fired-up Newcastle side at St James’ Park on Sunday.

It was a match defined by intensity, aggression, and a familiar flaw Chelsea fans are growing tired of — slow starts.

Within just two minutes, Sandro Tonali had already breached Chelsea’s defence, setting the tone for a match that quickly slipped away from Enzo Maresca’s side. The early goal not only rocked Chelsea, but empowered the home side and their raucous supporters, creating an atmosphere that became suffocating for the Blues.

Speaking after the game, Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes revealed the strategy that worked so effectively against Chelsea: hit them hard, and hit them early.

“We have seen from the start about Chelsea that they start a little bit slow. We try to score first, and we did this. I think this was a big one for us,” Guimaraes said.

“We enjoyed scoring first and this was part of the gaffer’s plan, so give him some credit.”

Guimaraes’ comments highlight a troubling trend for Chelsea. Despite boasting a technically gifted and youthful squad, the Blues have often lacked urgency in the opening minutes of games.

Opponents are noticing — and exploiting it.
This isn’t the first time Chelsea have been punished for sluggish starts this season, and unless Maresca finds a way to inject intensity from the first whistle, it won’t be the last.

In games like this, the talent on paper counts for little if the players aren’t mentally prepared from kick-off. Newcastle’s early press, high tempo, and relentless energy overwhelmed Chelsea — just as PSG found themselves rattled under similar circumstances at St James’ Park.

Chelsea fans will be left asking: how many more lessons before we learn to start strong?
The message is clear — the Premier League waits for no one, and starting slow means finishing second-best.