Chelsea FC summer homework: Defenders

Chelsea FC have plenty of work to do in the off-season to rebuild in Antonio Conte’s first year with the club. In this series, the Pride of London staff is identifying one single area of improvement for each player to focus on during the off-season.

While Chelsea fans work diligently to repress their memories of the 2015/16 season, the players and coaches do not have that luxury. Even with a good portion of the squad out on national team duty for Copa America Centenario or Euro 2016, preparations for a return to form are already underway amongst the club and for the individual players.

In the hopes that we will never again have to assign so many D’s, C’s and one E+ in future end-of-season player reviews, the Pride of London staff are taking a look at one thing – just one! – that each Chelsea player needs to focus on in the off-season. From specific aspects of physical conditioning to personality traits to learning a new role, we’ve identified what each Blue needs to do to thrive under Antonio Conte and restore the club to the League’s top four.

Chelsea’s 53 goals allowed and +6 goal differential were the worst since the 1996/97 campaign, when the club still finished higher in the Premier League and somehow managed to win the FA Cup. Chelsea’s defense often paid the price for the woeful performance of Nemanja Matic, but that in no way absolves the backline for so many opposing players and through-balls getting clear behind John Terry & Company.

Chelsea’s defense reflects the broader tension in the club stemming from the Blues’ academy, transfer and loan policies. John Terry and Gary Cahill anchor a starting XI that is showing signs of age and sloppiness, while a crop of youngsters that would be the envy of nearly any club in Europe sits unused on the bench or scattered on loan.

Next: Branislav Ivanovic: Shift to Center-Back

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Branislav Ivanovic
John Terry
Kurt Zouma
Matt Miazga
Gary Cahill
Baba Rahman
Cesar Azpilicueta