Gary Mabbutt: Chelsea – improving after twelve months of turmoil

TWELVE months on from the start of Graham Potter’s reign as Chelsea manager and things look oh so different at Stamford Bridge. You could say things have settled down just a bit. The 2022-23 campaign was quite literally a whirlwind at Chelsea Football Club. In no small part due to the new owners removing everything that slightly resembled the ‘old regime’. All the while acquiring new talent on and off the pitch at an alarming rate, causing what can only be deemed as complete chaos for anyone involved in the process of trying to be successful on the pitch. Fans still had the expectation of success due to being so spoilt in this regard under the previous owner and many players, who had been part of this success, appeared just as confused as everyone else about the upheaval and turbulence it was causing.

Of the 15 players that played a part in Graham Potter’s first Premier League game in charge of Chelsea (a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace), over half (eight) have since departed the club. Fast forward 12 months to Chelsea’s recent victory against Fulham and 11 of the 16 players involved in the match were not even at the club 12 months ago (either bought since or returned from loan).

The changes have been stark to say the least! Graham Potter made no less than 84 changes to his starting lineup across his 22 Premier League games in charge of the club (3.8 per game), using 32 players in total – only Southampton (36) and Nottingham Forest (33) used more across the whole season. Stories of multiple dressing rooms being used to accommodate the influx of signings throughout the season, amid some players getting changed in corridors, provides just a small snippet into what was going on within the day-to-day running of the club. Not even club legend Frank Lampard could do anything to change the environment or arrest the abysmal form of the team hurtling towards a terrible ending to what can only be described as a season of madness.

By contrast, Mauricio Pochettino’s first seven Premier League games have seen him make just eight starting lineup changes (Potter made 29 in his first seven), most of which have been forced by injury or suspension. Indeed, since the Argentinian’s arrival, there has been a clear shift in the feeling around the club, and although expectations have to be managed accordingly, there are signs that this (even newer version of) Chelsea is a far different Chelsea side to the one we became accustomed to last season and the stats back this up, despite currently sitting 11^th in the league.

As the above details, Chelsea are averaging better numbers in virtually every metric compared to last season’s per game figures. Considering at this time last year they still had many of the experienced players that had won multiple trophies with the club – including the recent Champions League win in 2021 – the new crop of young players are doing everything they can to make progress and improve the team’s position, whilst gaining the relative experience needed to be successful at this high level. With an experienced manager to guide them, who appears to be a calming influence and a well-respected figure both with the players and when talking to the media, Mauricio Pochettino is helping to create the conditions required to allow his side to grow and develop while pushing the players for more as each matchday comes around.

Despite winning just two of their seven Premier League games so far this season (D2 L3), Chelsea have dominated and controlled virtually all of their matches, outscoring their opponents in expected goals in all seven games, while only Man City have averaged more passes per game (677) and had more possession (66%) than the Blues (611 and 64%).

Getting into the final third has not been a problem for Pochettino’s young side, with only Spurs and Arsenal having more touches in the opposition’s box and playing more passes into the box. Finishing off their chances is where Chelsea have really struggled, scoring from just 6.9% of their attempts so far this term (7/102).

Despite the clear need to improve in this area, in order to turn good performances into wins, there are many aspects Mauricio Pochettino can be happy with, including how well his side are winning the ball back high up the pitch. Only Manchester United (56) have won possession in the final third more often than Chelsea (50) while no side has initiated more pressed sequences (The number of sequences starting in their defensive third where the opposition has 3 or fewer passes and the sequence ends in their own half) in the league this season than the Blues (122).

Six players (Sanchez, Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Enzo and Gallagher) have started every Premier League game for the club so far this season and this is becoming the core of the side, along with the experienced Raheem Sterling (who only missed out on the Fulham game with illness). With a settled back-line (minus the odd injured fullback) and Robert Sanchez performing well in goal, a nice balanced platform is starting to form, providing an inexperienced frontline with the opportunity to express themselves and grow in confidence moving forward.

A tricky run of games is on the horizon for this Chelsea side, with seven of their next eight coming against teams that finished in the top 10 last season. An excellent test of the team’s credentials as they look to build on the early foundations laid by Pochettino and attempt to climb their way back up the table, with the ultimate aim of getting back to where the club has been accustomed to operating for so many years… the Champions League.

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