Footballer turned Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville selected seven Chelsea FC players in his Premier League XI including Branislav Ivanovic, Diego Costa, and Eden Hazard. Neville is of course a former Manchester United player but he is usually fair and balanced in his punditry which can not be said about some of his counterparts in the media. He also gave us one of the great moments in commentary when he lost his mind at Fernando Torres’s goal against Barcelona in the Champions League.
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The Blues have been top of the league for nearly the entire season and it would be crazy to see a Premier League XI that did not have a majority of Chelsea FC players in it. Even some of the other selections Neville made could be argued that a Chelsea player should be there instead. Here are the selections and what we think of them.
David De Gea – Manchester United
David De Gea has singlehandedly kept Manchester United in the chase for a Champions League place. The Spanish shot stopper has been excellent since his rookie season struggles and has become one of the best keepers in the world. He has yet to displace Iker Casillas with Spain but that is more due to Casillas’s history than recent form. Thibaut Courtois was likely in the conversation here but his low number of clean sheets, though no fault of his own, surely hurt his chances.
Branislav Ivanovic
Branislav Ivanovic has been a constant for Chelsea this season and has played every minute of Premier League action for the Blues. His goalscoring record of four goals this season is excellent for his position but he is often blamed for Chelsea’s defensive frailties down the right hand side. Nathaniel Clyne of Southampton would have been another choice here but Branna has earned it with his penchant for crossing and scoring goals.
John Terry
The best central defender in England, case closed. John Terry has discovered the fountain of youth and it shows with his excellent play this season. He has been rejuvenated under Jose Mourinho and he continues to perform at the highest level. His lack of pace has hurt him at times but his positional sense and vision keep him ahead of the game.
Jose Fonte – Southampton
No surprise here as Jose Fonte leads the best defense in the Premier League. Southampton has only given up 22 goals in 31 matches and that has been the main reason for their rise up the table. They have struggled to score in recent weeks but that is no fault of Jose Fonte’s. He does not have the goalscoring instincts of John Terry but not many players do.
Cesar Azpilicueta
This is a surprise choice here as Cesar Azpilicueta has not been at his best this season. Last year he was the Chelsea FC Player of the Year as chosen by his teammates and was one of the best defenders in Premier League. His play has suffered a bit because of injury but he has kept Filipe Luis out of the lineup with his play. Perhaps it is time that he moves back to his natural position so the Blues can take advantage of his crossing ability.
Eden Hazard
What can we say about him that has not already been said. Eden Hazard is the best Chelsea FC player and has been the best player in the Premier League. He has carried this team and continues to do so as they try to dash for the finish line and claim the title as early as possible. Adding a few more goals to his tally of 12 would be excellent but scoring that many goals from a wide position is still fantastic.
Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas
The midfield duo of Matic and Fabregas was excellent for Chelsea in the first half of the season but both have seen their performances drop since the turn of the year. It could be linked to fatigue but whatever is the case it has not been good for the Blues. Fabregas in particular has picked himself up in recent weeks and Matic has done the same since returning to full fitness after his suspension.
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Alexis Sanchez
After a few years of playing second or third fiddle to Lionel Messi in Barcelona, Alexis Sanchez has taken the Premier League by storm. He is one of the few players outside of Chelsea that could walk right in to the Blues’ starting lineup. The thought of him terrorizing defenses opposite Eden Hazard instead of Willian or Juan Cuadrado is mouthwatering. He has revitalized Arsenal this season and is contender for signing of the season.
Diego Costa
Diego Costa started off this season like wildfire, scoring hat tricks and braces on what seemed like a weekly basis. His 19 goals without a penalty is an excellent record and he has been striking fear in to opposing defenses all season long. Injuries and suspensions have kept his very good season from becoming a great one but at just 26 years old he has his best years ahead of him. If he can fully overcome this hamstring issue then Diego Costa will become a Chelsea great in no time.
Harry Kane
Ah Harry Kane, the savior of Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team. The British press love him and to be fair, what is not to love. He is English, handsome, says all the right things, and does not seem to have a hint of controversy about him. He is tied with Diego Costa atop the goalscoring charts but he is also Spurs’ designated penalty taker. Kane has been a revelation this season but he has to prove that he is not just a one year wonder. His work rate and attitude suggest otherwise but we all know how quickly things can change in football.
Photos by @cfcunoffical (Chelsea Debs). On Twitter and at cfcunofficial.com