A very surprising stat about Chelsea emerged from Mauricio Pochettino’s latest pre-match press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino was speaking ahead of Chelsea‘s trip to the Amex Stadium to take on Brighton & Hove Albion.
It is a big game for his side, who need the three points in their bid to secure Europa League qualification.
With the form that they are in, Chelsea will fancy their chances.
The Blues have won their last three Premier League games, but their improved form actually stretches beyond that good run against Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur it seems. At this sage, former Chelsea player Pat Nevin thinks it would be “madness” to sack Pochettino.
Mauricio Pochettino delighted with surprise Chelsea stat
With Chelsea having missed out on Champions League qualification and spending a large part of the season in 10th place, the consensus is Pochettino’s side have underperformed the whole campaign.
Yet a reporter shared in the Argentine’s pre-match press conference for the Brighton game that only three teams have actually picked up more points than Chelsea since 26 December.
Upon hearing that, Pochettino stopped mid press conference to applaud presumably himself and his team.
Had Chelsea not started off the season so slowly, then, they would probably be in the top four right now.
The Blues managed to win just one of their first five games, which came against Luton Town.
Why did Chelsea struggle so much in the first half of the season?
Injuries obviously played a huge part. Chelsea started the campaign with Christopher Nkunku sidelined, while Reece James and Ben Chilwell would eventually join him on the treatment table.
Nicolas Jackson was also missing a lot of chances, but he has got better as the season has gone on, according to Gary Lineker.
His Premier League record would suggest that that has happened. In 33 appearances, the 22-year-old has scored 14 goals.
With more players available, Jackson scoring and Cole Palmer in form, it is starting to click for Pochettino and Chelsea.