Chelsea confirmed the inevitable on Friday, sealing the Premier League title with a 1-0 win at the Hawthorns on Friday.
Antonio Conte has extracted the absolute maximum out a relatively small squad which is in need of bolstering over the summer if Chelsea are to contend with the rigours of balancing domestic and European competition.
It’s been a stellar campaign for some, while others are likely to be shown the exit door in the summer. Here Metro ranks all those players who have made five or more Premier League appearances this season…
Eden Hazard
N’Golo Kante may well have won both the PFA and Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards but in reality, Eden Hazard has been the true difference maker for Chelsea this season.
After a season spent largely sulking and squabbling with Jose Mourinho, the appointment of Antonio Conte galvanised the Belgian who has decorated Chelsea’s dominance of the leagHazard has enjoyed his most prolific campaign in front of goal and with decisive contributions against the likes of Arsenal and both Manchester clubs he’s underlined his status as a big game player
N’Golo Kante
Looking back to last summer, it is incredible now to think that Antonio Conte wasn’t provided with more competition for the France international’s services.
A £32 million steal, Kante has proved last season’s success with Leicester was no fluke and provided the relentless energy and defensive platform on which much of Chelsea’s success has been built.
David Luiz
Signed as a last resort, the Brazil international is now one of the first names on Conte’s team sheet.
Uncompromising in the tackle, elegant as ever on the ball and a key member in the dressing room, Conte’s decision to re-sign Luiz now looks a masterstroke.
Diego Costa
If this is to be the Spain striker’s last season in English football, he’s going out with a bang and another significant title-winning contribution.
The perfect foil for Eden Hazard, Costa will be missed not just for his goalscoring prowess but the formidable way in which he leads the line.
A goal drought during the business end of the season has taken the tinge off his season to a degree, but replacing him will be no straightforward task.
Gary Cahill
The now veteran centre-half looked certain to be consigned to the scrapheap after high-profile and costly errors against Arsenal and Swansea early in the season.
In typically defiant style, Cahill rolled up his sleeves and quickly got to grips with the demands of his new role and ensured Chelsea haven’t missed the on field presence of John Terry.
Pedro
Perhaps even more so than his compatriot Cesar Azpilicueta, Pedro has been the definition of an unsung hero for Chelsea this season
Whether playing in his customary role on the wing, deployed as a rampaging wing-back or even as a false nine, the former Barcelona star has been a model of consistency.
With eight goals and eight assists it’s no wonder he’s largely restricted last year’s player of the season Willian to a bit-part role.
Thibaut Courtois
Playing behind the league’s second meanest defence has helped, but the Belgian has been back to his unflappable best this season.
He’s kept 15 clean sheets and has yet to make a single error directly leading to a goal. Conte will no doubt be relieved Real Madrid have seemingly turned their attentions to David De Gea this summer.
Cesar Azpilicueta
Perhaps the best value for money signing in the history of the Roman Abramovich era, the Spain full-back come centre-half has established himself as a bastion of reliability.
Almost unbeatable in one-on-one situations, threatening in attack and robust in the challenge, the 27-year-old is the complete modern defender.
Cesc Fabregas
The major early season casualty of Conte’s tactical reshuffle, the Spanish maestro has had to bide his time before underlining his value with a burst form at the business end of the campaign.
Chelsea are virtually impenetrable when Kante and Nemanja Matic are paired in the engine room, but there’s no doubting they are less of a threat without Fabregas and have relied on him to unpick defences when the going has gotten tough.
Hanging on to him without a guarantee of first team football next season will be a tough ask.
Marcos Alonso
If the signing of Luiz was a risk then the addition of an uncapped Spaniard whose previous Premier League experience came during spells at Sunderland and Bolton looked plain odd.
Alonso, however, has proven to be a masterstroke. Rarely flustered defensively, he has emerged as a key attacking weapon, weighing in with six goals, and formed a terrific understanding with Eden Hazard.
Victor Moses
Nobody, even Moses, could have foreseen the prominent role he would come to play in Chelsea’s title success.
After loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham, Conte saw something in the Nigeria international nobody else had spotted. He’s slotted in perfectly in a right wing-back role tailor made for his best attributes but Chelsea could yet seek an upgrade in the summer.
Nemanja Matic
A tower of power in the Chelsea midfield, the Serb’s contribution has largely gone unnoticed with N’Golo Kante basking in the limelight.
Although a mainstay of two title-winning campaigns he has looked ponderous and immobile during Chelsea’s rare under-par performances and may have to settle for a less influential role next season.
Willian
Last year’s player of the season has contributed seven goals to Chelsea’s cause this time around but he’s been reduced to a bit-part role in the league through no fault of his own.
A victim of Pedro’s renaissance and the shock emergence of Victor Moses, it’s little wonder Jose Mourinho is regularly being linked with a move from one of his former players.
John Terry
On the pitch John Terry’s influence has been negligible this season, indeed he hasn’t started a league game since early September.
Off the field, however, his contributions have been invaluable and Antonio Conte has been at pains to credit him at regular intervals.
His demotion in a playing sense has been perfectly managed and the way in which he has accepted his role is a credit to his professionalism and unwavering commitment to his club.
Nahtniel Chalobah
Conte hasn’t exactly proved to be any more trusting of Chelsea’s youngsters than Jose Mourinho, but Chalobah has come as close as anyone to making a breakthrough this season.
After loan spells at six other clubs, he finally made his club debut eight years after signing professional terms and has equipped himself well in 13 subsequent appearances.
No comments:
Post a Comment