The Stats Behind Chelsea’s Domestic Cup Woes

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The EFL Cup final against Liverpool was Chelsea’s fifth domestic cup final in five seasons, of which they have lost all five. Here are the stats behind the Blues’ domestic cup curse.

Fallout From EFL Cup Defeat

The League Cup was a real chance for Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea side to show some progress. A weakened Liverpool side gave the London club the perfect opportunity to claim their first piece of silverware since the Champions League in 2021.

Instead, they faltered under the pressure, surrendering their best shot at a trophy. They also find themselves floundering around mid-table in the league. They are 2/9 in the Premier League football odds to finish outside the top six and a mammoth 475/1 in the outright Premier League title odds, highlighting their fall from grace.

Pochettino’s side looks to be stumbling on yet another wasteful season. If their form doesn’t improve, the Argentine could find himself on the chopping block come summer.

Elusive EFL Cup

Chelsea have appeared in the second-most EFL Cup finals, tied with Manchester United on 10 appearances. Liverpool – with 14 appearances – are the only club that have featured in more.

However, Chelsea are down in fourth regarding most EFL Cup victories, with five trophies at a 50% win rate. They rank behind United (six victories, 60% win rate), Manchester City (eight victories, 89% win rate), and Liverpool (10 victories, 71% win rate).

Arsenal – with two final victories and six defeats – are the only team to have lost more EFL Cup finals than Chelsea. Remarkably, three of Chelsea’s final defeats have come since 2019.

In their five final defeats, Chelsea have scored just twice, failing to find the net in three successive appearances. This means they have not scored in 360 minutes of EFL Cup final football, as each of their last three have gone to extra time.

The Blues have typically been solid defensively in these outings. Since the League Cup became a one-legged affair, Chelsea have kept four clean sheets in nine finals. However, only two of these have translated into victory.

FA Cup Failure

Chelsea have reached 16 FA Cup finals since the inaugural competition in 1872. Only Manchester United and Arsenal – both with 21 appearances – have reached more.

Once again, their win percentage in these games is lower than both their London rivals and United. The West London team have won and lost eight at a 50% success rate while United have won 12 and lost nine (57% win rate), and Arsenal have won 14 and lost 7 (67% win rate).

Chelsea appeared in three consecutive FA Cup finals from 2020 to 2022. Arsenal are the only other team to achieve this feat since the turn of the millennium, reaching the final every year from 2001 to 2003.

Despite relative success in booking their spot at Wembley in recent years, the FA Cup has also proven an elusive trophy. Chelsea were beaten in each of the three finals. Once, under club legend Frank Lampard and twice under Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel.

It was inefficiency in the final third that spelled doom for the Blues. They scored just once in their three successive FA Cup finals, losing 2-1 against Arsenal in 2020, 1-0 against Leicester in 2021, and suffering penalty shootout heartbreak against Liverpool in 2022.

Whether it’s a mentality issue or just plain bad luck, Chelsea must find a way of getting over the line at Wembley.