There are a lot of problems at Chelsea Football Club, but one statistic shows just how glaring their lack of stability is.
The Blues have suffered their second worst start in the Premier League this season, following their second worst season ever.
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A goalless draw at Bournemouth last weekend followed defeat to Nottingham Forest, while their only league victory came against newly promoted Luton Town.
Unfortunately for Chelsea fans this season, it’s been more of the same in the Todd Boehly era so far, dating back to last summer – a year after their Champions League triumph.
However, the malaise has been particularly bad in 2023, with four different coaches in charge of the team and two additional transfer windows further complicating matters.
An incredible £1 billion has been spent on the team over the last three windows, including £400 million this summer alone, and so far there has been little return on the pitch.
It’s not just about players not showing up for the full 90 minutes, but not showing up at all, with a huge injury crisis rendering Mauricio Pochettino’s bench this weekend unrecognizable despite spending gargantuan in players.
In 2023, 24 players arrived across the summer and winter windows, including 44 the other way around, meaning this calendar year 37 different players have started Premier League games for Chelsea.
That’s eight more than the teams with the second most departures, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, while it’s a whopping 16 more than Newcastle and Brentford.
Eddie Howe’s Magpies could be a special lesson for Chelsea, with their 21 players in 2023 ensuring an incredible year at St. James Park.
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Howe has been able to fine-tune his team and put in place a cohesive system to get them back into the Champions League, while the congestion in the Chelsea dressing room has them floundering in the other direction.
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