Chelsea may have played their last game of the 2019/20 season. Whether this is the end or the three-quarters point, here are Chelsea’s players of the season through matchday 29.
Chelsea’s youth revolution was the story of the club and one of the big stories of the Premier League for the first five months of the season. Then injuries and some necessary squad changes came around, and the most recent month was all about the nearly-forgotten senior players. Here are the Blues our writers recognize as the players of the season (so far).
Mateo Kovacic (Tan Yi Hao)
When Mateo Kovacic joined Chelsea on a permanent basis last summer, questions came up about his £40 million transfer fee along with his mediocre performances under Maurizio Sarri the season prior.
Just half a year on, however, and Kovacic’s importance to Frank Lampard is arguably second to none. His dynamism on the ball and his uncanny ability to get out of even the tightest of spaces has proven invaluable to Lampard’s direct style of play.
Completing 3.7 dribbles per 90 minutes, Kovacic’s 86.3% successful take-on rate ranks him third in Europe’s top five leagues, behind only Thomas Partey and Thiago. Add to that his two goals and three assists this season, up from just two assists in the whole of last season, and Kovacic has truly proven himself worthy of his price tag just six months on.
Marcos Alonso (Kevin Peacock)
Marcos Alonso was given dogs abuse by those who perceived Emerson a better choice simply because he could run faster. Football is not just about pace. It may well matter on the game FIFA, but in real-life, the game of football requires more thought.
Having excelled for Antonio Conte as a wing-back, Maurizio Sarri set back Alonso’s progress with his persistent use of a back four. Frank Lampard has settled on the middle ground, and as a result Alonso’s form has returned along with his goal threat.
Mateo Kovacic (Varun Dani)
After a rather uninspiring year under Maurizio Sarri, it was surprising to see Chelsea invoke Kovacic’s buy clause. Most suspected it was due to the transfer ban, but as the season as progressed it’s quite easy to understand why Lampard wanted him on board.
Kovacic has dominated the midfield effortlessly, regardless of the competition and opposition. He’s almost overcome a typically divided fan base to become a unanimously respected player.
His grit while defending and silk on the ball has made him the linchpin of the Chelsea team regardless of tactics, an undroppable player à la Eden Hazard.
The biggest compliment, though, has been how, in a season where N’Golo Kante has found himself constantly injured, Kovacic has made it feel like his absence doesn’t matter, which is no light statement.
Willian (Nate Hofmann)
Heading into the season, everyone expected Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi to eventually take over as Chelsea’s starting wingers. And yet here we are in March, and Willian is the last man standing.
To his immense credit, Willian has proven himself to be a leader through his actions on the pitch, and a match-winner when Chelsea needs it most. In a team devoid of much experience, he’s one of the few grizzled veterans capable of dragging this battered corpse of a squad over the finish line.
And, if the season is actually done, he’ll have pulled it off.