5 Chelsea players that can surprise us this season
Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea era has been a true roller coaster with the great ups hidden in a Champions League trophy, several league and FA Cup titles. The downs are not so metaphorical as Chelsea really did see a massive drop on the table last season finishing at record lowest since 1996 at 10th position.
Unlike two seasons ago, when Chelsea acquired Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas early on in the summer transfer window, Chelsea’s performance this transfer window has been quite average. Their two main signings Michy Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante have been great additions, but it remains to be seen whether the new manager will be able to salvage a Champions League spot – a primary criterion expected by the club’s hierarchy.
Nonetheless, with the two Manchester clubs not calling a day with their record shattering and money splashing, Conte will really have to bring all he’s got to be noticed in the swarm of clubs genuinely targeting the title.
The new manager showed no dearth of passion at the recent European Championships this summer and the Blues fans will be hoping that he can keep the fire burning at Chelsea as well. The players are looking for ways to forget the nightmare that was last season and guide Chelsea to the team that was feared by teams travelling to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will be looking for the academy products as well as new signings to perform in order to challenge for a top 4 spot, if not the title.
Here are 5 Chelsea players that should be on your radar this season.
#1 Kurt Zouma
Last season Kurt Zouma suffered a horrific injury in his game against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. He severely damaged his anterior cruciate ligament and was out for a predicted 6 months.
Chelsea failed to pick themselves up last season after Zouma’s injury with the primary problem stemming from defensive instability.
Zouma is indispensable to the English giants and the stats buttress this claim. According to his 2016 statistics, Zouma topped the list before he was injured in the highest number of aerial duels won with an impressive total of 19, aerial success rate of 79%, 46 clearances, and 5 blocks in the entire Chelsea squad.
The man has his way when it comes to countering counter attacks. He quells them with an impressive sprint followed by a perfectly timed slide in to clear the ball. He’s consistent and has excellent tactical ability.
Not only did he form a brilliant partnership with John Terry, he outshone some of his seniors and dislodged Gary Cahill from his position in the first team.
The Frenchman is covering great ground on his recovery and is poised to come back sooner than anticipated. Keep a look out, he could make a late substitution by early next month.