- Chelsea’s struggling season continued with a dismal 4-2 house loss to Wolves
- Stats present Mauricio Pochettino’s aspect have failed to enhance on Potter’s reign
- Chelsea are a large number and it is exhausting to search out the solutions… however they should hold the religion and keep affected person – It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Mauricio Pochettino is approaching a vital – and harmful level – in his Chelsea tenure. The Argentine has reached 31 video games, the very same level as Graham Potter when he was given his marching orders final yr.
After a humiliating 4-2 house defeat to Wolves this weekend, it may not be lengthy earlier than captain Pochettino walks the plank too. It marked a dangerous week for the Blues that noticed them ship 4 targets in again to again video games, following a 4-1 loss away at Liverpool.
When Potter was axed final April, he too had suffered a dismal house defeat – a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge – earlier than being changed by Frank Lampard for the remainder of the season.
But after 31 video games every, the indicators do not look good for Pochettino. As somebody that proprietor Todd Boehly hoped would are available in and shake up this Chelsea staff, issues seem like they’ve hardly improved in any respect.
Stats from Opta present that Potter – who solely managed 22 Premier League video games compared to Pochettino’s 23 – gained fewer matches in all competitions (12) than Pochettino (14) after 31 video games, with the Argentine boasting a superior win fee of 45.2 per cent to Potter’s 38.7 per cent.
Chelsea struggles this season present no indicators of letting up after a 4-2 house loss to Wolves
The Blues have did not construct on final season since Mauricio Pochettino took cost of the membership
Potter’s aspect additionally drew extra video games (eight) than Pochettino (six), however each misplaced 11 matches on the similar stage.
Pochettino’s present aspect have additionally outscored Potter’s throughout the spell of 31 video games, with 54 strikes in comparison with his 33.
But whereas Chelsea may be a greater attacking outfit below Pochettino, they’ve truly obtained a lot worse defensively – which is a large concern.
The present outfit have let in 43 targets in all competitions, 39 of which have come within the Premier League. By method of comparability, relegation threatened Everton have solely let in 30. Across his 31 video games, Potter’s Chelsea let in simply 31 targets.
And that elevated defensive shoddiness this season is properly represented with 368 pictures confronted – up on the 336 from the identical stage below Potter, whos XG allowed was 3.7.7 in comparison with Pochettino’s 41.
Chelsea have been dismal below Graham Potter final time period, however stats present his Chelsea have been extra defensively sound than Pochettino’s
Indeed, the numbers is not going to make for nice studying for the Chelsea hierarchy – particularly after an eye-watering outlay of £400million assembling a squad for the ex-Tottenham boss.
Mail Sport reported this week that Pochettino was not in any imminent hazard of being sacked regardless of Chelsea’s poor outcomes, which have left them eleventh within the desk.
However, if Chelsea have been contemplating a change of managers, the board could be compelled to half with round £10million – together with offloading his complete teaching employees – which would depart them vulnerable to breching the Premier League’s spending guidelines.
Pochettino might but win a trophy this season after main the staff to the Carabao Cup ultimate – which might be performed in opposition to Liverpool on February 25 – which might additionally assure them Europa League soccer.
However, Chelsea face a tough upcoming month with an FA Cup replay in opposition to Aston Villa subsequent, adopted by a visit to Crystal Palace, a go to to Premier League champions Man City – earlier than their showpiece in opposition to the Reds.
Chelsea have conceded 43 targets from 31 matches this season – whereas Potter’s aspect solely let in 31
Pochettino’s phrases after their newest defeat at house to Wolves have been telling as he admitted he ‘by no means’ thought managing the Blues could be this robust.
‘We knew it was going to be tough this year but never (this tough),’ mentioned Pochettino. ‘Because of all the circumstances (injuries and suspensions), it makes the situation worse.
‘We have too many important players out and too many circumstances going on from the start of the season that is out of our hands. But at the same time, it’s a superb problem.
‘We are so far away (from our targets). To be honest, our target was to be on top. We are Chelsea and with our history and everything, it demands us to be near the top. But at the moment we need to be realistic. We need to compete better if we want to win more games,’