The numbers and reasons behind Chelsea’s abysmal attack

The drop-off is reflected in every metric you look at. There are about nine metrics that more directly impact goal scoring. According to FBRef, Shot taking dropped 20% to 12.3 per 90 minutes, xG per game, according to FBRef, dropped 25% to 1.26 xG per 90, shots on target per 90 dropped 26% to 3.89 per 90, completed passes into the penalty area dropped 17% to 9.57 and carries into the penalty area dropped 15% to 5.4 per 90.

This is without even mentioning the glaring metrics like Shot-Creating Actions per 90, which dropped 22% to 21.9, and Goal-Creating Actions per 90 which dropped 47% per 90 to 1.89. In key metrics, the FA Cup finalists dropped significantly. Big chances created per game also dropped 28%.

With how poorly the team has performed, it is difficult to pinpoint the reason for this massive drop-off. One glaring factor would be the change of managerial personnel from the beginning of the season till now. This is a reason, but it doesn’t completely explain the disparity in numbers. Chelsea has had four different men in the dugout this season: Thomas Tuchel (6 league games managed), Graham Potter (22 games), Bruno Saltor (1 game), and Frank Lampard (6 games managed).

These four men have combined for 11 Premier League wins so far in the 2022/23 season. With Potter managing the bulk of games this season, a lot of the attacking impotence can be traced to him.

Personnel and team selection is another factor. It is important to note that Chelsea lost key players like Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to free transfers, Jorginho to Arsenal in the winter transfer window, and Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan in a loan deal. Other than that, all managers concerned this season have made team selections that have not helped the team many times.