(Image): Incredible graph shows why Chelsea fans are so frustrated by Maresca-ball | OneFootball

The Athletic did a fantastic piece today looking at Chelsea’s change in style under Enzo Maresca.

The rapid transition play from earlier in the season is gone, replaced by slow, low tempo possession play. Fans aren’t too happy about it. One graphic in particular showed the dramatic decline in xG from counter attacks and direct play over the course of the coach’s time in charge.

You can see the full graphic embedded here to get a sense for yourself:

Chelsea’s expected goals from fast breaks. (The Athletic)

Chelsea sacrifice excitement without getting anything in return

As you can see, there was an upwards trend under Mauricio Pochettino, who ended his one season in charge with a really impressive run of wins which coincided with the same steady increase in xG from fast breaks we see in the image above.

When Enzo Maresca arrived, he didn’t just pick up where Pochettino left off – the accelerated it even further. As you can can see, the first 10 or so games of his time in charge saw the Blues reach new heights in terms of creating chances with fast attacks.

Since then, it’s been a steady trend downwards however. As the Italian coach has started to make the team his own, their xG from these quick moves up the pitch has dropped. The idea is that we have more control in games when we sacrifice some attacking freedom but it hasn’t played out that way.

The defence has been no better since the chances started to soak in, and the results have declined, much as you’d expect from a team which has lost a major source of goalscoring chances without any balancing improvement elsewhere.

Is the next stage of this process a tightening up at the back which brings better results? Or a continued increase in dissatisfaction from the fans that takes the club to breaking point? It looks like we’ll have to wait until next season to find out…