ESPN FC selected their top 50 players in the English Premier League and to little surprise the list featured all 11 of Chelsea FC’s usual starters. Usually when you win the title in any given league across any sport, the reason you did so is not just because you had the best collective team, but because you also had the best players. Here are the Chelsea players that were selected and their ranking in the top 50.
Next: #48
![By CFC Unofficial (Debs) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/733d7807097c776101c8391624ffd0a72adfb014da7768ba989285c603ea8797.jpg "By CFC Unofficial (Debs) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
48. Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill had a tough season and at some point even lost his starting position to youngster Kurt Zouma. Still, he showed tremendous fortitude to fight for his place back and was back in the starting eleven for the stretch run at the end of the season.
Some believe that Gary Cahill is a average defender that is simply made to look better because he is playing alongside John Terry. While there is some truth to the fact that Terry does make those around him better, Cahill is just a year removed from being in the Premier league team of the season for his play in 2013-14. He is still one of the better defenders in the league and deserves more credit for his play.
Next: #44
![By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/26fcdf8913690220e4f9ef02b571926d582bddad04cec2ba68d4ce9144aec606.jpg "By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
44. Willian
It feels like Willian should be higher on this list. The Brazilian winger became one of the Premier Leagues best players in the second half of the season as he saw his place being threatened. Chelsea FC brought in Fiorentina midfielder Juan Cuadrado as competition for the Brazilian and he raised his game in response.
He became the true dual threat that Chelsea fans envisioned when the club first signed him a few years ago. He has continued his excellent form with the Brazil national team in the Copa America and has established himself as one of José Mourinho’s favorite players.
His tireless running on and off the ball helps protect the Chelsea defense, especially when Branislav Ivanovic is bombing forward, and his contributions to the team go much further than just goals and assists.
Next: #38
![By Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK (DSC01440) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/061b670e66951afda2725f894f27bfd3b90c593d43f1f9a033f37a401fa146c2.jpg "By Ben Sutherland from Crystal Palace, London, UK (DSC01440) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
38. Cesar Azpilicueta
The man known as Dave is another that should have been ranked higher on this list. Azpilicueta is one of the best defenders in the Premier League and one could make the argument that he is the best defensive fullback in the country. He has been playing out of position for two years now and has excelled at it, showing his versatility and willingness to adapt for the team.
He is a stalwart in Mourinho’s teams and he was so good last season that he kept another excellent fullback in Filipe Luis out of the starting lineup. He did the same with Ashley Cole the year before and it appears that no matter who the Blues bring in to challenge him he will always rise above and impress.
Next: #28
![By CFC Unofficial (Debs) (Chelsea 6 Maribor 0 Champions League) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/a9d2b23bc203e4f74c5130c04e639fbd17a93a845430e0d10d4ab2e7729441c8.jpg "By CFC Unofficial (Debs) (Chelsea 6 Maribor 0 Champions League) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
28. Oscar
This is a bit of a surprise selection, or at least how high he was ranked is a bit of a surprise considering many believed that he had a down season in 2014-15. Oscar did in fact struggle at times with consistency and his attacking contributions were at times nonexistent, but he is still one of the more talented players in the Chelsea FC squad.
He showed that he can be deadly from set pieces and when he is on form his creativity is an excellent addition to the offensive flow of the team. He has an excellent rapport with Eden Hazard but has yet to establish the same connection with Diego Costa. Perhaps if Costa had played for Brazil instead of Spain there would be more of a connection but it may have come at the cost of the Cesc-Diego connection.
Either way, Oscar is an immensely talented player and this list is further proof of it. If he is able to find some consistency he may be able to climb even higher on this list and in to the top 10 where he belongs.
Next: #18
![By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Chelsea 1 Man City 1) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f0c02ef331c87129027876841968bc5f7cb4b08e72ad0e405dabbd1f6bb28f86.jpg "By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Chelsea 1 Man City 1) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
18. Branislav Ivanovic
Branislav Ivanovic is a bit of an enigma among Chelsea fans. Some think that he is the best combination of attacking and defending in a fullback and others think that he takes far too many risks.
Many fans blamed him for the Blues’ vulnerability on the right flank and they felt that he left Gary Cahill exposed far too often. While there may be some truth to that, he is still one of the better defenders in the league and his offensive contributions are immense.
He scored vital goals against many teams this season with some of them being more worthy of a world class striker than a fullback. Ivanovic is getting up there in age as he inches towards his mid-30s but he does not appear to be slowing down one bit.
Next: #15
![By Julian Mason from London, UK (JOHN TERRY Uploaded by Yoda1893) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b73e58d5e489898ba988d12e855051698ad99e410b535d09fe3876a89d523466.jpg "By Julian Mason from London, UK (JOHN TERRY Uploaded by Yoda1893) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
15. John Terry
15 seems a bit low for our Captain, Leader, Legend but when you take a look at the rest of the list and realize that he is the highest ranked defender then it all makes sense. John Terry continued his career renaissance last season with another excellent run of form as he kept the title of best defender and best center back in the league.
It appeared at one point during their title run that Vincent Kompany of Manchester City was gunning for that crown but a series of high-profile errors and subsequent benching ended that conversation. Terry is defying Father Time with his recent form and one has to wonder when it will finally catch up to him.
His decision to retire from international football seems to have benefited him greatly and allows him to rest and recover while his younger counterparts are travelling around the world with their national teams. This has allowed him to once again become the dominant force he was for such a long time in the Premier League and he shows no signs of slowing down either.
Next: #12
![By @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London (Chelsea 2 Spurs 0 Capital One Cup winners 2015) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6797516dd8b407d495b5d5db239d9eb9bebedd585e557597fa79f9723703229f.jpg "By @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London (Chelsea 2 Spurs 0 Capital One Cup winners 2015) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
12. Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois was one of Chelsea’s standout performers this past season and deserves to be ranked this high on the list. It is a bit disappointing to see Manchester United’s David De Gea ranked three spots ahead of him at #9 but the Spanish keeper did almost single-handedly keep them in the top four.
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There were some initial hiccups for Courtois as he became the starter and some believed that it had something to do with his age and unwillingness to criticize his much older teammates. That did not seem to be a problem at Atletico Madrid so it was most likely just a short adjustment period that he had to go through along with his defenders.
Courtois really earned his stripes late in the season, especially in his performance against Hull City where he managed a brilliant triple save to keep the Tigers at bay. He was also Chelsea FC’s man of the match in both legs of the League Cup semifinal against Liverpool and he proved that he is more than capable of handling the physicality of the English game. The sky is the limit for this young keeper and he could be the main man between the sticks for Chelsea for the next 10-12 years.
Next: #10
![By CFC Unofficial (Debs) (Chelsea 2 QPR 1) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d780e4be8e8f080e918ba7c2244f69c5ac454ff896ae28ed2cf721d823d325df.jpg "By CFC Unofficial (Debs) (Chelsea 2 QPR 1) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
10. Nemanja Matic
Nemanja Matic has been a revelation for Chelsea FC since he returned from his quick trip to Benfica. The Serbian midfielder has quickly become one of the most important players in the squad and is the key cog in the Chelsea engine. He starts attacks with his passing and breaks up the opponents’ attacks with his excellent tackles.
Matic is the general in the midfield and he makes everyone else around him better. His contributions are not always evident on the stat sheet but every true football fan knows that it is not all about goals and assists. He contributes in a number of ways and is perhaps Chelsea FC’s most indispensable player, even more so than a certain Belgian superstar.
Next: #5
![By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Sunderland 0 Chelsea 0) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/633d37e4ee7fa7b83f2dc3e5c3b0f6de7e7621a3d832e1d54544aa297f12368f.jpg "By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Sunderland 0 Chelsea 0) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
5. Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas was the surprise signing of last summer as the former Arsenal captain decided to jump ship from Barcelona and join Chelsea FC. He quickly went from public enemy number one to one of the fan favorites at Stamford Bridge as he made his place in the team. He contributed assist after assist, finishing the season with 22 in all competitions, and made Diego Costa the dangerous striker that he was during the 2014-15 campaign.
He finally lifted the Premier League trophy after 10 years of waiting he even got his own song and chant from the Chelsea faithful. There were some doubts about him as he tailed off a bit after the turn of the year but he finished his campaign off strong with two assists in his last four matches. He also gave us one of the funniest moments of the season with his silly red card against West Brom.
Next: #4
![By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/24a1b3daf915725d975369a13ac3641a7c4a02a6c9168a18079d0768d8c58fdb.jpg "By CFCUnofficial (Chelsea Debs) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
4. Diego Costa
With 20 goals in his first Premier League season, with only one coming from the penalty spot, it is no surprise that Diego Costa is in the top 5. There were doubts that Costa could repeat his La Liga form with Chelsea but he scored in the season opener and never looked back. In the first half of the season he was nearly unstoppable until injuries caught up to him and slowed him down after the turn of the New Year.
Costa still has those lingering hamstring issues but he has proven that when he is healthy he is one of the best strikers in Europe. He pushes opponents’ buttons unlike most players and is not afraid of getting in to a scrap. Sometimes his combative nature may be a detriment to his team but is that fighting spirit that keeps Diego Costa hungry for all those goals.
Next: #1
![By @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Chelsea 1 Everton 0) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/49ce228b867556bc79d0131d44106bd4ddcfc76be9b6aa904f1d4ba661e40dd0.jpg "By @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) (Chelsea 1 Everton 0) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons")
1. Eden Hazard
This was perhaps the biggest no-brainer on the list. Where else would a player that was the named the PFA Player of the Year and the Chelsea FC Player of the Year end up besides number one? Eden Hazard has quickly become the biggest star in the Premier League and is one of the best players in world football, entering the conversations usually reserved for the Ronaldos and Messis of the world.
Hazard has become one of the most indispensable players for Chelsea and as he goes so do the Blues. When he is on form and truly feeling it, then the Blues are nearly unstoppable in attack. He got some help this season from the likes of Fabregas and Diego Costa but he is still the focal point of the Chelsea attack.
He also contributes on the defensive side of the ball and has become an excellent two-way player under Jose Mourinho. The Blues are lucky to have such a talent in their midst and he has proven to be worth every penny of his hefty initial transfer fee.
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