Five players key to Chelsea’s hopes of success this year.
Chelsea have started the 2014/15 season in incredible form, both scoring goals and looking sold defensively as they’ve roared to the top of the Premier League table, only dropping points courtesy of a late Frank Lampard equaliser for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
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If they are to secure the Premier League title, and perhaps continental glory, they will need these five players to be at the top of their games:
John Terry
Age is showing very little sign of catching up with Chelsea captain John Terry, who has already been absolutely superb for the Blues this season and has formed a fine partnership with Gary Cahill at the back. Terry is amongst the best defenders in the Premier League and is still crucial to the Blues.
Nemanja Matic
For all of Chelsea’s attacking prowess, it is arguably the destructive midfield presence of Nemanja Matic that makes the biggest difference for them – the Serbian can make a genuine case for being the finest defensive midfield player on the planet. If he stays fit then they will remain an absolute nightmare to play against.
Cesc Fabregas
The presence of Matic in central midfield has allowed new signing Cesc Fabregas to really settle into life as a Chelsea player and flourish, with the Spaniard already bagging more assists this season than any Blue last season. He has been absolutely immense and, if Fabregas keeps his creativity up, it is hard to see Chelsea not winning the league.
Eden Hazard
Last season, Belgian winger Eden Hazard was, by some considerable distance, Chelsea’s most potent and dangerous attacking threat, both in terms of creating and scoring goals. Whilst the arrival of Fabregas and Costa has taken that pressure off somewhat, the Belgian is still crucial to Mourinho’s plans.
Diego Costa
The incredible goalscoring form of former Atletico Madrid hitman Diego Costa since arriving at Stamford Bridge makes him impossible to leave off this list – Costa has, in one fell swoop, solved Chelsea’s two biggest issues from last season, a lack of a consistent striker and an inability to break down teams who sit deep and soak up pressure.