Chelsea is quickly rounding into top form and after 17 games unbeaten maybe they are already there but with more to come, here is the top XI for 2021.
Chelsea fans should be fairly thrilled (leave “elated” for a bit later) by the great start in 2020/21 season. More success is likely on the way. The club’s tremendous offseason acquiring several top players like Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Thiago Silva, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, and Edouard Mendy has helped transform the team. Yet, that’s not all that’s occurring with the boys in Blue. Current players are also stepping up and rounding into better form. The convergence of those two factors, among others, could very well catapult Chelsea into the top echelon of both the Premier League and the Champions League. So far, so good.
So at this point in the season, it may be helpful to take a look at what Chelsea’s top XI could look like as the club enters 2021. The assumptions here include the following: fitness, acclimatization process essentially completed, and the continued development of some younger players. With those qualifiers in mind, here’s what the top Chelsea team could look like in 2021.
Keeper: Edouard Mendy
No questions here. Mendy has brought new excellence to the keeper position at Chelsea. He’s been immense and it’s perfectly appropriate to dub him “Clean Sheet” Mendy. He’s been just the addition hoped for when Petr Cech advised the club evidently to sign up this unsung keeper from Rennes. He immediately went into the first team and has not looked back. A top keeper is essential to any hope of titles and Chelsea now has one.
Central Defense: Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma
Thiago Silva is the senior statesman of the Chelsea defense and the Chelsea team for that matter. Absent an early-season gaffe, Silva has been as advertised and more since coming over after his contract lapsed at Paris Saint-Germain. Any votes for a Silva signing have been rewarded by a golden performance by the multi-title-winning Brazilian. Not only has his performance been outstanding, but his patriarchal calm and controlled presence have made his partner even better raising his game to new heights, as well.
Frank Lampard has managed the 35-year-old Brazilian’s appearances masterfully. Overuse cannot be allowed to happen and that can be a problem when the level of the player’s performance is as good as Silva’s has been. The argument exists and has been floated for the acquisition of another top younger central defender as the third man in a top rotation if you happen to feel that option is not currently available to Lampard. That’s a subject for a discussion another time perhaps. But if a new third rotational central defender is added to the mix, e.g. in January, it could work out just fine for the Blues, assuming one or more of the current players at that position on the squad are moving out.
The other starter is without a doubt Kurt “Air Zouma”. With Silva’s amazing composure and under his seeming tutelage, Zouma has raised his game to a new outstanding level. He’s matured as a defender, not subject to mistakes so often, and has taken his air game to a whole new level. Zouma has the ability to get his head on the ball and win an amazing percentage of duels in the air due to a truly magnificent vertical leaping ability. That’s a physical talent that can’t be taught. You either have it or you don’t and “Air Zouma” has it in abundance. It says here that he’s as good as anyone maybe in the Premier League and possibly even the world in his ability to win challenges in the air. In addition, and this is really of more recent vintage, is his ability on corner kicks to get his headers on target and into the back of the net. Four goals in 10 Premier League appearances. It doesn’t get much better than that from any central defender.
Zouma has been around for a long time at Chelsea yet he’s still only 26 years old and just now entering his prime. He’s matured and is now one of the top central defenders in the Premier League. It was no wonder that Jose Mourinho, the master craftsman, reportedly wanted to steal Zouma in the transfer window for his excellent Tottenham side. Glad that one didn’t happen. Zouma is now a fixture at central defense and hopefully will be for years to come for the Blues.
Fullbacks: Ben Chilwell and Reece James
The signing of Ben Chilwell from Leicester City was evidently a key one for gaffer Lampard as he sought to cement the position that has been in flux since the departure of Ashley Cole. Few would have understood how a dynamic fullback can enhance an attack better than the former No. 8 for Chelsea. Lampard better than anyone can appreciate that a pacy and aggressive attacking fullback on that side is a perfect complement to Mason Mount and the winger on that side. Chilwell has stepped in and immediately claimed the position as his own, which is exactly what is expected of such a signing. Trashing any doubts related to the 50 million pound transfer fee, Chilwell has performed brilliantly in attack and has dispelled any doubts about the defensive aspects of his game by contributing solidly there, as well. All-in-all, a totally marvelous signing.
On the right side of the defense is a young player who is clearly living up to the high expectations placed on him as an academy stalwart, Reece James. James exploded onto the scene last season under more than willing to give young players a chance first-year manager Lampard. To some degree, that was necessary due to the transfer ban(s) under which the gaffer operated last season. James rose to the challenge as he demonstrated both top skills as a crosser and as an attacking option on the right side. While his defense was somewhat inconsistent last year, James has upped his game and has shown that he is now a capable fullback in all aspects of the game. He had to be to dislodge Captain, nice guy, and solid defender himself, Cesar Azpilicueta.
Midfield: Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, and Kai Havertz
On the left side of the midfield’s dual No. 8 alignment is the exuberant Mason Mount. Previously peppered by truly silly criticism, Mount is clearly at his best position as an attacking midfielder, now becoming the star that many predicted, including Lionel Messi. And who’s going to argue with perhaps the greatest ever?
Mount is taking his game to a new level in midfield. As has been written before here, he is a wonderful linkup player between Ben Chilwell on the left side and the forward on that side. He performs that task masterfully with his ability to blast the ball forward and find the winger on his side or another attacker with equal proficiency. In addition, Mount’s uncanny work rate not only assists his midfield mate N’Golo Kante who can also blast forward in the attack, but also will also complement his other midfield compatriot, Havertz by affording him the opportunity to move forward more freely as well.
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The midfield anchor is probably the best in the world at playing that sweeping up role as a central defensive midfielder and that is the irrepressible N’Golo Kante. The French World Cup winner is arguably the best player at his position anywhere and may also be the most popular player in the world, as well. With his sincere humility and kind and friendly demeanor, Kante is just plain amazing and that goes for both being a brilliant player and for being just such a wonderful person. As he approaches 30 years old, it will be incumbent on gaffer Lampard to utilize this tremendous asset with prudence and perspicacity. Overuse is unacceptable and Chelsea has the depth to allow Kante off-field rest with the likes of top players like Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, and the recently-returned from injury dynamic ball-of-fire, Billy Gilmour.
The second attacking midfielder in the dual No. 8’s is Kai Havertz. The young (21-year-old) German national has had an up-and-down first few months in his new blue shirt. Yet, there is no doubt here that once his acclimatization period winds down and he fully recovers from his bout with the coronavirus, that he will be a terror to Premier League defenses. He has been unusually off-target on his passes early. Whether the reason(s) for that has been a new league, team, or illness, this is clearly going to improve dramatically.
When he gets totally settled, fit, and healthy he’ll undoubtedly begin to rack up copious numbers of assists and goals. In addition, Havertz will score. He already has notched a hat-trick to his name in Blue. He will unquestionably be the best linkup player on the right side to be deployed between the aforementioned James and Hakim Ziyech. When Ziyech finally shakes off his injury woes and has a healthy Havertz between him and James, the right-side creativeness will flow.
Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner, and Hakim Ziyech
Christian Pulisic has been plagued with injuries during his initial season and a half in the Blue of Chelsea. He has not been able to shake off the injury bug for any extended period of time. Currently fit, Pulisic will hopefully step into the starting left winger position and claim it as his own. After ditching his indecisive and deferential playing style after the suspension of play earlier this year, Pulisic returned with a vengeance with dynamic pace, a new direct-attacking style, and a clear determination to be a difference-maker. It worked. He along with Olivier Giroud and Willian led Chelsea’s post-suspension dash to a Champions League spot this season.
At center-forward Lampard has an abundance of riches but his best option is Timo Werner. One should of course qualify that by saying that a certain French national, No. 18, Olivier Giroud has proven and continues to prove that he is more than capable of manning that top spot often with startlingly positive results. In such a case, Werner is certainly an option, especially when other wingers are unfit, to man the left-wing spot. Werner’s talent is unquestionable, his pace is blistering, and his skills are undeniable, yet the German national has begun his Chelsea career misfiring on a number of occasions.
Forget any panic, it says here that these are just part of his acclimation process. Feeling pressure to succeed, and that means the toughest part of football, goal-scoring for a striker, Werner seems to be just trying a bit too hard, as they say. His overuse earlier did nothing to help ameliorate that situation. Now, however, with a more managed and manageable allocation of pitch time (read, the use of the brilliant Giroud), expect Werner to break out in a big way, soon, and never look back. It may be a brace, a hat trick, or a Giroud-inspired quad. Whatever it will be, it will arrive soon and it will launch Werner on his way to a haul of goals for certain.
At right-wing is the Moroccan magician, Hakim Ziyech. He has unfortunately been afflicted with injuries in both his first game in blue with a knee injury and most recently a hamstring injury a week ago. The good news is that he is expected to be fit sooner rather than later. That will be a big plus for the winger whose silky smooth crosses can dismantle any defense and the club. One problem to-date has been that the midfield on the right has been unable to involve Ziyech as much as needs be in the attack. The linkup in the middle of the pitch between James and Ziyech has been largely ineffective. The emplacement of Havertz in that position permanently will open things up for Ziyech and allow him to put his stamp on Chelsea’s attack. When that happens, the Blues’ attack will be devastating.
That is the team that when it is finally fit, acclimated, and in sync, will be a juggernaut on offense in the Premier League and will be solid throughout the lineup. This could happen earlier or maybe it won’t happen until later in 2021. No crystal ball here. But barring wholly unfortunate major injuries, if/when this group of players actually gets onto the pitch together when all are relatively fit and rested, it should be a sight to behold, at least for Chelsea fans. The positioning of this particular 11 on the pitch at one time, will be great to see, for Chelsea fans. There are few weaknesses to point out in this XI, and it may just lead to a title or two this season or next. In fact, it’s very likely it will.