Since Nicolas Jackson’s 80th-minute goal against Brentford around 16 days ago, Chelsea have had 48 shots in the Premier League. In that time three matches have been played and only one goal has been scored by the Blues.
Twenty of those shots came in one match against Ipswich Town on Monday evening. To tell you how the match went based on statistics, the Tractor Boys had nine shots throughout the 100 minutes (five added minutes in each half) while Chelsea had 20.
Chelsea had 76% of possession. Seventy-six. And yet, you left Portman Road on Monday – or turned off your television in rage – feeling as if Ipswich completely deserved it.
It wasn’t as if those opportunities created by the visitors were not good chances. Chelsea ended the game with 2.22 xG in comparison to the hosts’ 1.55. Enzo Maresca, while accepting there were defensive frailties – to be kind – on show in Ipswich, could reiterated the fact that his Chelsea side did create clear-cut chances in both halves in East Anglia.
“A bit of a strange game,” a frustrated Maresca told reporters at full-time. “We created so many chances in the first-half and in the first five or 10 minutes of the second-half, we had two clear chances; the header from Joao [Felix] and another shot.”
The front five, with Enzo Fernandez tucking into one of the No.10 roles a lot of the time, that started the match at Ipswich cost over an estimated £270million. Meanwhile, for Ipswich, six of their starters were with them in League One.
Ipswich, though, for want of a better phrase; wanted it more than Chelsea. That much was clear. The Tractor Boys, winless at Portman Road in the Premier League this season going into the game, wanted to give their supporters – who created a brilliant atmosphere on the night – a high point to end 2024.
Maresca always looking to improve at Chelsea
“A bit of a strange game,” a frustrated Maresca told reporters at full-time. “We created so many chances in the first-half and in the first five or 10 minutes of the second-half, we had two clear chances; the header from Joao [Felix] and another shot.”The front five, with Enzo Fernandez tucking into one of the No.10 roles a lot of the time, that started the match at Ipswich cost over an estimated £270million. Meanwhile, for Ipswich, six of their starters were with them in League One.by TaboolaSponsored LinksYou May LikeGet Your Free Bets & 300% Welcome VouchersSuper Odds for top teams on MSport. Make the biggest win with the same matches. Bet NowMSportSponsored Link by TaboolaCanada Awaits: Immigrate Without a Job OfferCanadaijIpswich, though, for want of a better phrase; wanted it more than Chelsea. That much was clear. The Tractor Boys, winless at Portman Road in the Premier League this season going into the game, wanted to give their supporters – who created a brilliant atmosphere on the night – a high point to end 2024.3-Bedroom Container Homes for Seniors in Nigeria – The Prices May Surprise You!Container Homes | Search Adsby TaboolaSponsored LinksFor Chelsea, though, it is a low end to the calendar year – with back-to-back defeats against Fulham and Ipswich meaning they end 2024 now fearing for a place in the Premier League’s top four. It was genuinely just a matter of days ago we were talking about the Blues being the closest team to challenge runaway leaders Liverpool at the top of the division.That is how football goes, though, and with Chelsea’s faltering attack and their shaky defence, there will be issues to contend with. Maresca said post-Fulham he would make changes to his team – and many supporters agreed with that statement at the time.However, when they saw the XI on Monday evening, many of those fans online were left asking the same sort of question: ‘What is Axel Disasi doing at right-back?”. Ultimately, a central defender being played out of position – albeit he has done it frequently since signing around 18 months ago – is never ideal but some can deal with it.Disasi, however, for all of his physical attributes, does not look the right man in this system. Sloppy in possession at times, slow in turning and questionable decision-making – it seems as if Ipswich targeted him a lot at Portman Road and they had their success because of it.
