Things can only get better as Chelsea get the numbers right under Poch

09/30/2023 Soccer

THE SHARPE END: Things can only get better as Chelsea get the numbers right as Nicolas Jackson is proving to be key to Mauricio Pochettino’s system despite a poor conversion rate

  • Signs under Pochettino suggest Chelsea are playing better than results show 
  • Jackson is proving to be key to the system despite a poor conversion rate
  • Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here

If there was one statistic to encapsulate Chelsea’s plight: of the clubs who have been in the PL permanently since 2022-23, only two have earned fewer points in their last 38 games, the equivalent of a full season, than the Blues. They’ve spent a fair bit in that time too.

And yet the signs under Mauricio Pochettino suggest they’re playing better than results show. 

No side has underperformed their xG as much as Chelsea and only Man City and Arsenal have conceded fewer xG. They also boast the highest possession.

Chelsea also dominate territory. Over the first seven gameweeks, Chelsea had more than 55% of the touches in the most zones of the pitch. 

It doesn’t win you games, of course, but continue like they are under Pochettino, and results will surely come.

Signs under Mauricio Pochettino suggest Chelsea are playing better than results show… and Nicolas Jackson (right) has been key despite a poor conversion rate

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However, in their last 29 Premier League matches, Chelsea sit in the bottom three of points out of the clubs who have been in the PL permanently since 2022-23.

They have won just nine times, drawing 12 games and losing 17.

Alongside this, Chelsea have a -9 goal difference in comparison with London rivals Arsenal on +44 in the same number of matches.

And while many are quick to blame their forwards, Nicolas Jackson, for all his spurred chances, is key to how Chelsea press under Pochettino.

Over the first seven gameweeks, no striker has produced as many sprints (153) as the forward.

Furthermore, no attacker has made as many runs, with his 216 the most in the Premier League.

Only Son Heung-min of Spurs and former Blue Dominic Solanke, now at Bournemouth, among forwards made more pressures in the final third that led to a turnover than Jackson (who has made 22).

However, with a shot conversion rate at just 5.26%, there is work to do in front of goal. 

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