Chelsea boasts the most sophisticated data analysis system in world football – since BlueCo took over the club in May 2022, the club has achieved a leap forward in the field of data. At the time of the acquisition, the new owners assessed that the club’s data analysis capabilities lagged behind their American sports counterparts by a full 20 years. However, three years later, the situation is a world of difference: just last week, they were still interviewing new performance data analysts, continuing to expand their professional team led by Chief Analytics Officer Sachin Gupta and AI PhD & Director of Data Science Javier Fernández.
This system is centered on the PowerBI data transformation engine, utilizing programming languages such as Python for statistical analysis and integrating resources from multiple data providers including Stats Perform. Drones hover over the training ground, while GPS vests provide real-time monitoring, enabling the creation of customized training programs. TV screens displayed in the locker room show player data from the previous match, using healthy competition to motivate the stars. All of this not only supports Maresca’s tactical decisions but also demonstrates the day-to-day technological revolution at the Cobham Training Ground.
Yet even the top-tier analysis team faces uncharted territory this season. When the club won the Club World Cup this summer, no data model could have predicted the knock-on effects of that campaign on the current season – a mere 25 days separated the players lifting the trophy together and playing two preseason games in 48 hours. Seven weeks later, nine players in Maresca’s squad are now sidelined, seven of whom are injured. When they face Liverpool this Saturday, they will be without seven key players including Palmer, Tosin, and Fofana. Chalobah is suspended due to a red card, and Mudryk has not yet returned from his suspension. More critically, three core players including Caicedo are currently playing through injuries.
This team, once mocked by the outside world for having a "bloated squad," is actually stretched thin, according to insiders. A few weeks ago, Brazilian striker João Pedro voluntarily requested a rotation, but he had to start again because there were no available center-forwards (the manager seemingly doesn’t trust Giù). After a bright start to the season, the shadow of three winless games has loomed over Stamford Bridge. Stephen Smith, CEO of Kitman Labs – a world-leading sports performance intelligence company – revealed to the sports section of the Daily Mail: "They are adopting a holistic approach to track players’ physical and mental metrics, covering more than a dozen dimensions such as sleep quality, biomechanical data, and blood hormone markers."
Chelsea has used 24 players this season, a necessity not only for rotation but more so due to injuries. Although they built a squad with "double depth in every position" (for example, signing Hato as a backup left-back) in anticipation of the aftermath of the Club World Cup, the center-back crisis has forced this versatile player to switch to center-back. The club still stands firm on refusing to strengthen the center-back position in the winter transfer window, unless the injury crisis worsens continuously. Smith pointed out: "Chelsea is the only team this season where only Caicedo has played every game – this situation is extremely challenging for any club."
Statistics show that the team’s total distance covered this season is 616 kilometers, ranking last in the Premier League. However, this is precisely characteristic of a possession-based style of play – they don’t need to chase the ball frequently. Nevertheless, their opponent this weekend, Liverpool, has the league’s highest possession rate of 64%, so it remains in doubt whether the Blues can maintain their rhythm. As the season progresses, experts in the field worry that the fatigue effect may intensify. Smith summarized: "The Premier League usually sees an injury peak at the start of the season, a second wave during the busy winter schedule period, and a third wave when competition becomes intense at the end of the season. Chelsea is facing an unprecedented fixture challenge."
