Mauricio Pochettino acknowledges the need for improved clinical finishing as Wolves hand his Chelsea team their eighth defeat in a lackluster Premier League campaign.
Second-half goals from Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty secure victory for the hosts, marking their first back-to-back league wins against Chelsea in nearly half a century.
Despite substitute Christopher Nkunku’s injury-time header on his Premier League debut, it falls short of salvaging a point for the Blues. The defeat marks Chelsea’s fourth consecutive away league loss, a feat not seen since December 2000.
Once again, Chelsea’s offensive struggles are evident, as they’ve now missed 36 big chances in the league this season, the highest among all teams.
Pochettino said: “We feel very disappointed because I think we deserve much more. This competition wounds you when you are not clinical enough.
“We created chances, that is why it is so disappointing. We conceded after a few corners and it was really difficult.
“We have players playing for the first time in the league, they need to adapt. It is confidence and about quality. We need to score if we want to win the games.”
Nicolas Jackson’s performance was so lackluster that his departure, cheered by Chelsea fans, occurred 10 minutes before the final whistle. The outcome places the club in 10th position, seven points away from securing a spot in the Europa Conference League, which, at this juncture, appears to be the most optimistic aspiration for the London team.
In 2023, no team has suffered more Premier League defeats than Chelsea (19). Across the major five European leagues this calendar year, only Almeria (24), Werder Bremen (20), and Empoli (20) have experienced more losses than the Blues.
Following a resilient display, Wolves now share the same point tally as Pochettino’s squad. However, their hard-fought victory came at a cost, as experienced defender Craig Dawson exited the match in the second half with what seemed to be a severe injury.
Nkunku provides some hope for Chelsea
To bridge the gap with contenders for European places in the Premier League’s second half, Chelsea must revitalize their attack. Christopher Nkunku, the French international, showcased his capabilities with a crucial goal, skillfully redirecting Raheem Sterling’s deep cross into the net despite limited space granted by Wolves’ captain, Max Kilman.
While Pochettino has cautioned against placing excessive expectations on Nkunku, the 26-year-old, who came on as a second-half substitute after recovering from a pre-season knee injury, possesses the potential to be a game-changer for the struggling Blues in the latter part of the campaign—a fact evident in their first-half struggles against Wolves.
Despite having opportunities to lead at halftime, Chelsea faltered, with Nicolas Jackson allowing Sterling’s well-placed far-post chip to roll under his foot, missing a crucial chance for a controlled and first-time finish.
Following his initial unsuccessful attempt, Sterling, clearly frustrated, executed a swift spin and charged towards the Wolves’ goal after intercepting the ball from Joao Gomes 40 yards out. However, his subsequent shot went straight at Jose Sa.
In the second half, with Chelsea trailing, Jackson had a clear opportunity to score but struggled to position his feet properly, losing his balance before getting a shot off.
Notably, Jackson currently has more yellow cards than Premier League goals, and the less-than-encouraging reception from his own fans upon leaving the field is unlikely to boost his confidence.
Pochettino, said: “We are going to lose him for one month to AFCON. If we compare Jackson with different players, he has scored goals. We cannot blame him, it is the team. He is young and expectation is massive at Chelsea.
“The quality players are here, they wouldn’t be at Chelsea otherwise. It is about how you mix these players together. It takes time to work. Nkunku needs time for everyone to see his best.”
Cole Palmer will not be available for the 27 December encounter with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge after he picked up his fifth booking for needlessly kicking the ball away, with Sterling also suspended.
Wonderful Wolves
Wolves are grappling with their own striking issues, prompting manager Gary O’Neil to consider solutions in the upcoming transfer window.
Reports suggest that O’Neil is open to parting ways with the £35 million signing Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic to make room for new additions. Additionally, long-serving full-back Jonny Otto is anticipated to leave following a significant fallout behind the scenes.
Despite entering the managerial role late in place of Julen Lopetegui amid dissatisfaction with Wolves’ hierarchy, O’Neil is pleased with his players’ response and the support he has garnered from the fans.
The atmosphere at a packed Molineux for the first Christmas Eve Premier League fixture since 1995 reached a fever pitch by the final whistle, especially after Lemina’s 51st-minute header secured a crucial win.
They believed victory was secured in injury time when Doherty seized the opportunity, capitalizing on Axel Disasi’s hesitation to clear instead of stopping Hwang Hee-chan’s cross, thereby doubling the lead.
Wolves now share an equal win-draw-loss record with Chelsea, trailing the Londoners only on goal difference. Their perspective on this situation is likely to be more optimistic than that of their opponents.