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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 12: Thiago Silva of Chelsea after his sides 4-4 of Bournemouth after their sides draw during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on November 12, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /

Defending

This is not as strong a point as any of the others, but it is a valid one nonetheless. Chelsea is in only three competitions this season and none that requires them to play twice a week most weeks. This means the Blues play once a week, most weeks. Fatigue is therefore not an issue. Pochettino’s men don’t defend as well as they should be, even though, compared to the rest of the league, they’re not that bad. However, they need to do much better in terms of limiting their opponents’ shots.

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According to FBRef, this season, the west London side has conceded 1.25 expected goals against (xGA) per game and has actually conceded 1.33 goals per game. This is too high, for a team that wants to challenge for the top four, and certainly for a team that wants to be challenging for the title in the near future. Manchester City, Arsenal, and Newcastle United are the only teams in the league with the defensive numbers befitting of teams that want to finish in the top four or challenge for titles. Mauricio Pochettino’s men should be one of those teams, as they should be aiming to concede less than one goal per game, and one goal per game at the worst. It is still a work in progress, but 1.25 xGA per game and 1.33 goals conceded per game are not indications of a team that is objectively defending well.

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