Jimmy Floyd hassled by his poor strike-rate

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink admitted he had under-performed this season as he looked to end on a winning note despite having failed to reach 20 goals in a campaign for the first time in seven years.

Hasselbaink has scored 15 times this season for Chelsea, compared to his superb haul of 29 last time around and observed that, at times, it had felt like “running against a brick wall” as his finishing went awry.

Indeed, while the Dutchman registered a total haul of 52 goals with strike partner Eidur Gudjohnsen last season, they have now registered just 25 goals between them during the current campaign.

“The whole team has been more consistent and the goals have come from everywhere, but just imagine if Eidur and I had a good season, what could have been achieved. I think a lot more,” he admitted. I’ve not produced like I normally produce. I’ve got my chances but I didn’t finish them how I normally would.

While Gianfranco Zola has experienced a renaissance, Gudjohnsen has endured similar frustration levels, with 10 goals to his name for Chelsea, although Hasselbaink picked out his fellow striker’s overhead kick against Leeds as his goal of the season.

“Gianfranco has scored a lot of beautiful goals but Eidur’s was one that you probably only score once in your lifetime. I was so pleased for him,” he told Chelsea TV.

Hasselbaink, meanwhile, has until now consistently reached the benchmark figure of 20 goals a season that top-class strikers aspire towards, with 20 goals for Boavista in 96-97 followed by returns of 20 and then 22 for Leeds.

A further 24 goals for Atletico Madrid in 1999-2000 were followed by hauls of 26 and 29 for Chelsea up until this season, when he has not been a regular fixture in the side and his strike-rate has faltered.

At one point, the Dutchman was linked with a move to Barcelona, having seemingly done little to distance himself from the Spanish club’s supposed interest.

However, any deal fell through as Chelsea were attempting to get around £10million for a 31-year-old striker in a depressed transfer market.