Chelsea’s squad is so packed with talent you may claim it’s hard to find the players that make the team work. In this article we take a look at five Chelsea players who seem to hold an inordinate amount of influence on how the team performs.
1. JOHN TERRY (England, Central defender)
Terry is captain of club and country and he sets the benchmark which the other Chelsea players adhere to. Willing to defend by any means necessary with skill and bravery, showing technically sound style and a great amount of skill. Not afraid to lead by example and always managers to be a danger for teams set pieces, you could not find a better player to captain your club and country.
2. ASHLEY COLE (England, Left back)
He may not be the most popular player amongst Arsenal fans, despite the criticism Ashley Cole is still considered by many to be the best left back in the world. Certainly he has struggled for form and confidence at times, his quality balls into the box after breakaways down the left side can only be matched by his nack of stopping the worlds best players in their tracks. noone else managers to keep players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo quite during games. That’s no fluke, only a world class left back can pull it off.
3. MIKAEL ESSIEN (Ghana, Central midfielder)
Injury robbed Chelsea of Essien for a large chunk of last season and his absence was keenly felt,despite the team being filled with outstanding midfielders. Essien gives the midfield wonderful balance. His energy, work rate and defensive skills are first class, but he is also a technically gifted soccer player of great intelligence. He gets forward well and packs a powerful shot from distance. At today’s prices the 24.4 million pounds that it cost to buy him looks like a bargin.
4. FRANK LAMPARD (England, Central Midfielder)
Every team needs a midfielder like Lampard who can weigh in with plenty of goals, if they are to be successful. Lampard is one of the best around. He has shown a great return to form under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti and as a result his goal tally has been increasing dramatically. Frank Lampard is a vital source of attacking strength due to his accurate shooting and ability to link play with his strikers.
5. DIDIER DROGBA (Ivory Coast, Attacker)
It is hard to dispute the claim that Didier Drogba is the best striker in the world at the moment. Didier Drogba wearing the Chelsea soccer jersey makes all defenders fear the upcoming game. He may be known for his ability to fall over during tackles and arguing with officials and opposing players but no goalkeeper wants him with the ball when he’s playing well. An excellent sense of presence coupled with prestigious goal scoring skill make him a must have for the team. His skill may give Chelsea what they need to end Manchester United’s recent dominance of the Premier League.
Five world class stars to make up just under half of a world class team.