Chelsea’s attacking decline has been stark in recent months, with their early-season fluency giving way to a blunt, ineffective forward line. Despite dominating possession, the Blues are failing to convert chances, highlighting both tactical shifts and a lack of clinical finishing. With their Champions League push faltering, the underlying numbers reveal just how much their attacking output has deteriorated.
Chelsea’s season has unravelled since their goalless draw at Everton in December. Before that, they were pushing Liverpool for the title, but since then, they have collected just nine points from nine games, with their attacking output collapsing.
The 3-0 defeat to Brighton summed up Chelsea’s struggles, as they failed to register a shot on target for the first time in over three years. The statistics show a worrying trend: Chelsea’s shots on target per game have dropped from 5.8 before Christmas to just 4.4 since, while they are now conceding more shots on target than they produce.
A major issue is their inability to outperform expected goals (xG). No team in the top half of the table has a worse record in terms of xG vs actual goals, highlighting poor finishing and a lack of ruthlessness.
Tactically, Maresca’s shift towards patient build-up has made Chelsea more predictable, reducing their strength in transition. Possession has increased, but attacking efficiency has declined. Without Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer has been isolated, and Chelsea’s midfield is offering little goal threat, ranking among the worst in the league for goals from midfielders.
With injuries further limiting attacking options, Chelsea’s attacking struggles must be addressed urgently if they are to salvage their top-four hopes.
