Chelsea: Best XI’s in the 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 after the January transfer window

Chelsea brought in depth during the January transfer window. But since the summer, some players have pushed their way into the best 3-4-3 and 3-5-2.

More than anything, Chelsea needed strong reinforcements in January. Emerson, Ross Barkley, and Olivier Giroud came in to strengthen the bench. All three have now featured at least once, so it is possible to predict the best XI.

The best XI are the players Antonio Conte would pick if everyone was fit and in form. That has been a rare occurrence in recent months, but the injuries finally appear to be lessening. Form is still an issue with some, but every player has shown a flash or two at least once this season.

The goalkeeper situation is (shockingly) unchanged. Thibaut Courtois is a fantastic goalkeeper and will not be displaced.

That being said, Caballero has impressed the more he has played. He likes to live on the wild side but has done a good job. But Courtois is still the first choice against the best teams in the world.

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The back line has almost seen a total change. The trio who won the title is no more. Only Cesar Azpilicueta survives due to his consistency and intelligence.

David Luiz and Gary Cahill are the two to drop. Both have become increasingly hollow shells of themselves. Andreas Christensen took Luiz’s spot almost immediately and is looking near world class. Antonio Rudiger has only recently looked better than Cahill. The German’s occasional mistakes kept him from breaking through sooner. The captain has been slipping into a hole as Rudiger as climbed out.

The wingback situation is unchanged at the moment. That could be different as early as the summer. On the right, neither Victor Moses nor Davide Zappacosta has set the standard. Neither can maintain form for long and when one is on form the other is off. For now, Moses retains his spot.

Emerson’s showcase is small as he recovers from injury. In his one appearance so far, he looked like a shorter, quicker Marcos Alonso. If Alonso ever falls out of form, Emerson is more than capable of starting.

Everything else is formation specific. 3-5-2 has not been used recently, but it is likely still in the toolbox for big games. For everything else, there is the 3-4-3.

The first choice center midfielder will always be N’Golo Kante. For the first time in England, he has shown fatigue this season. He has still managed to perform at a high level. If he were to leave Chelsea, the club would have a genuine issue to replace him.

Kante’s partner in the 3-4-3 is somewhat dependent upon the opponent. Chelsea have a good variety of midfielders to pick from now. But all things considered, Cesc Fabregas is the pick. He has proven perfectly capable of playing in a two man midfield this season and his passing is vital to the team creating attacks.

Filling out a midfield three is Tiemoue Bakayoko. No, he has not been in the best of form recently. His form this season has been a roller coaster. But Conte simply does not seem to trust Danny Drinkwater. Bakayoko has a great deal of growing left to do but the potential is there.

Moving into the forward line, Eden Hazard always starts. He is Chelsea’s best player and when he feels like it can be one of the world’s best. At times this season, he has struggled with his exact role. When he knows what he wants to do he has been deadly.

Alvaro Morata takes the striker’s spot. Olivier Giroud has impressed mightily since his transfer, but Morata did as well in his first few months at Chelsea. Poor team form and injuries have kept the Spaniard from scoring but he is the go to for the foreseeable future.

And in the event of a 3-4-3, Willian rises over Pedro. Willian has been quietly great all season. Pedro, meanwhile, has started to show his age. On a day where he is feeling it, Willian can be as dangerous as Hazard.

Following the transfer window, these are the players Conte will rely on when playing the best in the world.

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Several players could yet snatch a spot. Transfers could strengthen weak spots as well. But all in all, these XI’s can stand up with some of the best in Europe.