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3 Things Pochettino has gotten wrong at Chelsea this season

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea FC reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea FC reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 01: Levi Colwill of Chelsea gestures during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge on November 01, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Levi Colwill at left back for Chelsea

This may not be as much of an issue for many fans, as most fans just wanted to see the youngster given minutes, however, Colwill at left back has been a disservice to the team in many ways. It should first be noted, that part of the reason Colwill was included in the lineup at all, is for his aerial prowess. This has been generally justified as the former Brighton defender has averaged a 76% success rate in the league season. He has also won most of his ground duels, at 67%. His passing has been affected because of his left back role though, and the argument can be made that he is not developing as a centerback, which is ultimately what he is.

According to SofaScore, Colwill’s long ball accuracy has plummeted to 36% this season from 56% it was last season. He has had some lapses in concentration playing left back, and his low tackling volume shows something is lacking. Colwill attempts 1.9 tackles per game in the Premier League, and while he wins 1.7/1.9, it’s an abysmal volume of tackles to be attempting as a fullback. For comparison, Marc Cucurella has attempted 4.6 tackles per game, winning 3.3 (72%). This emphasizes how little Colwill has been involved in defending.

Pochettino should have seen this as an opportunity to seamlessly phase out the 39-year-old Thiago Silva, not because Silva can no longer go on, but so that Silva’s body doesn’t finally break down at a time the Blues are still depending on him. Colwill’s ball progression is better utilized at centerback, especially with his trademark punch-it-between-the-lines line-breaking pass. That trademark pass works much less often at left back, because there’s realistically only one direction he can pass the ball, so it’s anticipated – and therefore intercepted – more often.

It’s also not very easy to make the case that Colwill’s inclusion at left back has made Chelsea defensively strong, as 1.33 goals conceded per game so far, is good for 51 goals conceded after 38 games. It’s made worse when the Blues have three senior left backs on their roster, yet they’re all abandoned to play a centerback at left back.

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