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Chelsea's start to their Premier League season has been less than stellar, and manager Mauricio Pochettino is urging his team to step up their game in front of goal. With a mere five goals in their Premier League outings so far, Chelsea's scoring rate is alarmingly below the league's average of 2.65 goals per game over its 29 seasons.
In a surprising turn from the 2022/23 season where Raheem Sterling was Chelsea's top scorer with six goals, the team's goal tally this season has been even more modest. This downturn in performance has stirred concerns among fans and analysts. Following a goalless draw against Bournemouth on September 17th, 2023, Chelsea faced the disappointment of being booed off their home turf for the second consecutive match.
Despite significant investment in the team, with owner Todd Boehly splurging over £1 billion across three transfer windows, Chelsea's form has yet to pick up. Their Premier League statistics are sobering: a mere five points from their initial five matches, a singular victory against Luton Town, and just six triumphs throughout 2023.
Addressing the media ahead of their clash against Aston Villa, Pochettino stressed on the team's need to be sharper and more efficient in their finishing. He was quoted by Reuters emphasizing the importance of converting opportunities into goals.
"We need to be more clinical in front of goal and convert chances into goals. That is the most important thing," Pochettino told reporters ahead of Sunday's home game against Aston Villa.
"In all the data, we are in the top four. But in front of goal, we are in the bottom and that is why we don't have the points that we deserve. Football is about winning games."
"I am disappointed because I think many teams with less score more. That is why we feel bad, the players deserve more. The only way to find what we want is to keep pushing, keep playing," he added.
An interesting subplot to Chelsea's season is their absence from European competitions. Pochettino believes this offers a potential advantage, allowing the team to channel their focus squarely on domestic challenges.
To sum up, while the Premier League journey this season has been rocky for Chelsea, Pochettino's call for increased efficiency and goal-scoring precision might be the key to reviving the team's fortunes. Fans will be eagerly waiting to see if the Blues can turn the tide in their upcoming matches.
"It has been good to recover players from the international break. The circumstances have given us time to work and we've had a really good week," the Chelsea boss said.
"It's a time that, of course, for the fans is difficult because they are used to being in Europe, but we need to take advantage of the situation," he added.
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