Comparing Chelsea's 2013-14 Stats to Their 2014-15 Figures
As we enter the Premier League's final stretch, things are going to get exciting.
The title race is still alive and the race for Champions League qualification is as tight as ever, while those teams battling relegation know it's going to go right to the wire.
Chelsea continue to lead the way, and if we go on the position of Jose Mourinho's side at the top of the table, it's clear they have made progress.
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But have they?
It's said the league table never lies, but equally, neither do the statistics.
How are Chelsea faring with their fortunes from last season? Have they actually improved? Is Mourinho's team moving forward or back? What has been the key to their success this season?
Comparing the statistics from 2013/14 with this year's figures, Bleacher Report brings you the answers.
Goals scored
After 29 games last season, Chelsea were the Premier League’s third-highest scorers behind Liverpool and Manchester City. Despite struggling without a prolific goalscorer in their team, Jose Mourinho’s side had still notched up a respectable 56 goals in the campaign.
After 29 games in 2014/15, Chelsea’s record is looking more positive. Diego Costa’s made the impact his manager would have hoped, scoring 19 league goals and helping Chelsea to 61 in total in the Premier League.
Their record is second to Manchester City, who have scored 62 this term.
| Diego Costa | 19 |
| Eden Hazard | 11 |
| Oscar | 6 |
| Branislav Ivanovic | 4 |
| Loic Remy | 4 |
| Didier Drogba | 3 |
| Andre Schurrle | 3 |
| John Terry | 3 |
| Cesc Fabregas | 2 |
| Willian | 2 |
| Gary Cahill | 1 |
| Ramires | 1 |
| Nemanja Matic | 1 |
Goals conceded
While Chelsea have been a deadlier force going forward in the Premier League, if we’re going by goals conceded, it’s come at the expense of defensive solidity.
At this stage last season, Chelsea had conceded just 22 times in the league. It was the best record of any team, but this term they have been more charitable, conceding 25 goals.
That record is second to Southampton, who have conceded just 21 goals all season in the league.
Win percentage
Chelsea have led the Premier League since the opening weekend of the season and have been England’s standout team.
Mourinho’s men have looked much improved on what we’ve seen in the past, but it hasn’t meant they have won more games.
Chelsea’s win percentage this season remains exactly the same as it did in 2013/14.
After 29 games, the Blues have won 70 per cent of their Premier League outings—a total of 20 games.
Games won and lost
Where Chelsea have made an improvement this year is in the number of games they have lost in all competitions, not just the Premier League.
After their first 45 games of 2013/14, Chelsea’s record stood at: P45 W29 L7 D9
With more FA Cup games to contend with and the Premier League season finishing earlier, Chelsea reached 45 games on Mar. 18 when they defeated Galatasaray 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League.
Their 45 games have come a few days later this term—the 3-2 victory over Hull City on Mar. 22—and their record is improved.
Chelsea have won the same number of games, but some defeats have been turned into draws.
The Blues’ record now is: P45 W29 L3 D13
Scoring the first goal in matches
When we consider how dominant Chelsea have been in the Premier League this season, it’s interesting to note how they’ve tended to control games from the outset.
In 2013/14, Chelsea scored the first goal in 19 of their opening 29 Premier League fixtures.
This season it’s 23 after 29.
Discipline
Is there a ‘conspiracy’ against Chelsea this season? Mourinho has suggested so, and if we take the number of cards his players have picked up compared to last season, he may well have a case. Just.
In 2013/14, Chelsea’s first 29 Premier League games saw them pick up 47 yellow cards and just one red, coming against Tottenham Hotspur for Fernando Torres.
That’s an average of 1.65 cards per game.
This season, Chelsea have picked up 53 yellow cards and three reds. The guilty parties who have been dismissed are Cesar Azpilicueta (against Crystal Palace), Branislav Ivanovic (against Manchester United) and Nemanja Matic (against Burnley).
On average, Chelsea have picked up 1.93 cards per game.
Points won per pound spent on transfers
Much has been made of the business Chelsea have done in the transfer market this season. The club seems to have adopted a more shrewd approach, selling players for big money and replacing them for less with the likes of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.
Last season, Chelsea’s net spend was £58.4 million. After 29 games in the Premier League, the Blues had 66 points, meaning they had come at a cost of £884,848 per point gained.
It’s massively improved in 2014/15.
Chelsea’s net spend on transfers is just £3.1 million, and after 29 games, they’re a point better off than the same stage last season.
It means each point gained this term has come at a cost of just £46,268.
Points won at home:
We hear it said often—it’s a team’s home form that will win them titles or prevent the dreaded drop.
Chelsea seem to be bucking that trend to some degree this season.
As Mourinho and his players were often reminded, Chelsea won nothing last term. They finished as also-rans and off the pace.
Interestingly, their home record was better, though.
After 14 home games, Chelsea’s record read: P14 W12 L0 D2.
They had picked up an average of 2.71 points at Stamford Bridge.
This year has seen a marginal decline.
Chelsea’s home record after 14 games currently reads: P14 W11 L0 D3.
It gives them an average of 2.57 points in home fixtures.
Points won away:
The real difference for Chelsea in 2014/15 has been their form away from Stamford Bridge.
Last season, Chelsea’s record after 15 games was: P15 W7 L4 D4.
Their average points tally was just 1.67 per game.
This year has been much better.
Chelsea’s record on their travels is currently: P15 W9 L2 D4
It’s come at an average of 2.07 points per game and is the best in the entire Premier League.
*Sources: Statto.com, Soccerbase.com, Premier League
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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