The Statistics That Suggest Chelsea’s Revival Under Enzo Maresca Is Underway

Chelsea Football Club has certainly experienced a significant shift since Clearlake Capital took control at Stamford Bridge in May 2022.

The sense of stability that was once felt under former owner Roman Abramovich has vanished, leading to transfer windows characterised by considerable player movement both in and out of the club.

Todd Boehly and Behdad Egbali have often faced the wrath of supporters as the Blues navigated through one calamity after another. However, now under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, the team appears to be finding its footing once again.

On Thursday evening, a convincing 3-0 victory over Legia Warsaw in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League quarter-final has made the second leg almost a formality.

That victory marks their ninth consecutive win in the competition, with Chelsea finding the back of the net in all of them.

Though cup victories can never be taken for granted, Chelsea seems to be handling the Conference League with ease, and it would take a brave person to bet against them lifting the trophy now.

The manner in which Chelsea dispatching opponents suggests they are far too strong for this third-tier European competition.

In the Premier League, the situation is looking much brighter than it has for some time.

Chelsea’s Champions League fate is self-determined

Heading into their game against Ipswich Town this weekend, the Blues currently sit in fourth place, just four points behind Nottingham Forest in third.

With seven matches remaining, their destiny lies firmly in their own hands, and they’ll need to stay sharp in the upcoming fixtures as five teams below them are within six points.

A Europa League spot wouldn’t be the end of the world, but Maresca’s squad belongs in the Champions League.

In Clearlake’s first season in charge (2022/23), Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Frank Lampard were all brought in by the owners to revive the club’s fortunes. However, a disappointing 12th place finish, with only 44 points—45 points off the title-winning Man City—was far from the hierarchy’s aspirations.

A sixth-place finish last season seemed a step in the right direction, yet Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph denied Chelsea a place in the Europa League, instead relegating them to the Conference League.

The victories in this tournament have certainly put a positive spin on the club’s fortunes, but has there been any significant improvement since Clearlake took charge?

Player turnover has been nothing short of monumental, potentially accounting for the inconsistent performances observed initially.

For instance, none of the following players remain at the club: Havertz, Sterling, Felix, Gallagher, Mount, Chilwell, Jorginho, Koulibaly, Broja, Pulisic, Kovacic, Aubameyang, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Ziyech, or Kepa—all members of the first-team squad just two seasons ago.

While squad changes are a normal part of football’s lifecycle, the volume of players exiting Stamford Bridge is astonishing.

Financially, Abramovich invested €2.34 billion in players during his 19-year tenure, which, after counting €1.01 billion earned in transfer fees, resulted in a net spend of €1.33 billion.

Considering the financials excluding any January 2025 transfers, Clearlake’s net expenditure over essentially two seasons is only €140 million less.

Chelsea’s net spend is among the top ten in English football history

Significantly, Clearlake’s net outlay over the two and a half years leading up to this January is the tenth highest in the annals of English football.

In the 22/23 season, Havertz was Chelsea’s top scorer with a mere seven goals across all competitions, trailing Sterling on six and Felix with four.

The England international improved his scoring the following season, netting 16 to rank third overall, while Nico Jackson (17 goals) and the impressive Cole Palmer (25 goals) led the charts. Currently, Palmer is again leading the standings with 14 goals, followed by 12 from Christopher Nkunku and nine from Jackson.

What stands out recently for Chelsea is their enhanced control of the ball and passing accuracy.

For example, during the 22/23 season, Havertz was the top player for forward passes with 425. This season, more than five players have already surpassed that mark. Enzo Fernandez’s 617 and Cole Palmer’s 585 lead this statistic, indicating that Maresca encourages a possession-based style of play.

Fernandez also features prominently in duel engagements. However, no one comes close to Moises Caicedo, who has been involved in 349 duels with a 59.3% success rate. Tosin Adarabioyo’s 64.9% success rate is somewhat misleading, as he’s attempted less than half of Caicedo’s duels.

With 105 tackles attempted, Caicedo is way ahead of the rest of the Chelsea squad, with Marc Cucurella coming in second. Interestingly, Cucurella is one of the few remaining players from the 22/23 season, when he topped the tackle attempts with 72.

Competing at the highest level is essential, but Maresca may need to address player discipline as well.

With seven Premier League matches remaining in 2024/25 and potentially four more in the Conference League, Chelsea has already seen 100 yellow cards this season, well beyond the 81 handed out in the 22/23 season.

This season, they have already surpassed their previous total for shots attempted. In 22/23, Chelsea made 502 attempts, with 165 hitting the target; this season, they have made 532 attempts, with 284 on target, indicating a marked improvement.

It’s worth noting that shooting accuracy could still be improved; the current best shooters are in the upper 50% to low 60% range. In the 22/23 season, more players achieved higher accuracy levels, including Raheem Sterling (63.3%) and Conor Gallagher (61.1%).

The statistics support the notion that Chelsea is on the rise

Statistically, there’s evidence to back the assertion that Chelsea is improving.

Enzo Maresca appears to be the right person to lead the club forward and has displayed the temperament to keep things steady even amid turbulent times.

Although he’s coached seven fewer games than Mauricio Pochettino, Maresca boasts an impressive 59.1% win rate, far exceeding that of the Argentine’s. Of the other managers appointed by Clearlake, only Graham Potter’s figures warrant mention—at a lowly 38.7% win percentage.

Under Maresca’s reign, Chelsea has scored 97 goals and conceded 47, favourable statistics in comparison to Pochettino’s tenure, where 103 goals were scored but 74 conceded. Meanwhile, Potter’s side managed only 33 goals but conceded 31.

Maresca’s record includes the most away victories with 11, whereas he has achieved 15 home wins—just three less than Pochettino. Both managers have recorded 26 wins in total, with Maresca drawing eight matches, similar to Potter’s record of the same, while Pochettino’s side drew 11. Notably, Maresca’s 10 losses is the best record across all six managers since Clearlake took over.

Ultimately, spin the narrative whichever way you prefer; the reality is that although Chelsea still has a journey ahead, they are undoubtedly on the path to resurgence.