4. Axel Disasi
The signing of Monaco defender Axel Disasi was one of the more under the radar acquisitions Chelsea made this summer. The French international has played every minute for the Blues so far this season and has been a reliable figure in defense for Pochettino. Disasi’s built like a tank. So unsurprisingly his strengths are primarily in closer encounters where he can bully forwards with his frame. He also excels in anticipating passes and crosses.
Where he falls short defensively is in open space and when opposition forwards are on the counter as he’s not the fastest defender out there. Most of his defensive lapses this season have come from such counterattack situations. Yet, the little that Disasi may lack in certain defensive scenarios he makes up with his contribution to the team going forward. He has excellent passing range for a defender and on numerous occasions this season has picked out the runs of forwards with long balls. The 25-year-old is also the only Chelsea defender to have scored this season, netting on his debut against Liverpool.