5 Key players for Chelsea in 2014/15

With the new Premier League season almost upon us, and as the countdown hurtles towards a hectic opening weekend, it’s time to take a look at five of Chelsea’s most valuable squad members. A slew of new changes and additions during the off-season brings with it a sense that the Blues have the necessary components to wrangle the title from Machester City’s grasp if they all play to their strengths, especially now that they have improved their offensive options.Granted, this is going to be one of the closest title races in recent memory with Jose Mourinho’s men competing against City, Arsenal, Liverpool and a seemingly revolutionised Manchester United. So it’s up to their big names to produce the goods on a regular basis. Last season ended disappointingly for the super-rich London club as their title challenge simply fizzled out in the closing stages. But hopes are high once again as a new campaign rolls into focus that they can rise up and become the force they want to be.

#5 Didier Drogba

Drafted in as a returning messiah, Didier Drogba has the potential to recommence his legendary club status as one of their most-loved figures in recent times. Because, although he’s not the same player he was when he played a pivotal role in snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final, he remains an extremely dangerous player with a lot to play for.

However, an ankle injury picked up in pre-season means the 36-year-old may well miss the opening game of the season against Burnley. But the striker, according to reports from the Guardian, seems positive enough that he will make a speedy recovery.

Although they are a side brimming with talent and could still call on the services of Fernando Torres to lead the line if necessary, the fans would rather see the towering Ivory Coast star take to the pitch ahead of the misfiring Spaniard. Essentially, Drogba is a man with a point to prove, and he knows that this season is probably his best chance of claiming major silverware as he reaches the twilight of his career.

Getting over his seemingly minor injury will be his first challenge. But once he recovers, he will be hungrier than ever to get back to goal-scoring ways in the famous blue shirt.

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#4 Eden Hazard

Last season’s Chelsea player of the year last term, Eden Hazard’s value to the club borders on ‘priceless’.

His trickery on the ball, composure in and around the 18-yard box as well as his blistering pace all make for a deadly combination of talents that are sure to once again take the Premier League by storm. And after a rather good showing at the World Cup, as he helped guide Belgium to the quarter-finals, he will be anxious to keep the good times rolling with a prosperous start to proceedings.

Finishing the 2013/14 campaign as the club’s top league goalscorer with 14 goals had him tied with Newcastle’s Loic Remy as the 11th top scorer overall – not bad at all for a midfielder. And, in truth, he coped well with the pressure of being the team’s main man, especially with so many big stars around him and with the new mid-season arrival of Mohamed Salah waiting in the wings for his chance to dethrone his team-mate.

This time around, he’ll be hoping his role is a bit different, though. Now that he has far better options to thread passes and killer through-balls to, the young winger can set about shooting his name higher up the assists charts instead as his side go in search of some domestic, and hopefully European, silverware.

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#3 Thibaut Courtois

Returning to the fold once more, Thibaut Courtois will hope there’s something prodigious about his arrival in London once again.

An outstanding performer last season, fans of all sorts will surely remember just how good he was for Atletico Madrid in both Champions League semi-final legs against Mourinho’s men; a sterling couple of displays that made many loyal fans sit up, take note and wonder why he wasn’t back on the books faster than Frank Lampard signed for Manchester City.

Chelsea have been in need of a more reliable long-term goalkeeper. After all, Petr Cech, while he’s still a top, top ‘keeper, has experienced a decline in his custodial powers in recent seasons. Some might even argue that he’s not been the same since the horrific head injury that left him sidelined for three months back in 2006. But nevertheless, it was always going to be important they drafted in an appropriately solid replacement for the shot-stopper.

If Courtois can build on the promise and results he showed in La Liga, his position as their new no.1 shouldn’t face any real threat from those around him. And with a relatively settled defence in front of him, the 6’6” goalkeeper should feel confident in his ability to quickly forge a good understanding with them.

According to Metro’s Hannah Duncan, Courtois recorded the lowest ratio of goals conceded to games played last season for Atletico. So it is plain to see they have an aerially superb, confident and defensively shrewd player that is light years ahead of many of his peers – even at the tender age of 22.

He represents a really solid investment for the present and the future.

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#2 Diego Costa

A failure on the part of their strikers to produce the goods last season combined with a manager that just seemed too stubborn or ill-advised to include the prolific Romelu Lukaku in his plans were largely blamed as the erroneous decisions behind Chelsea’s inability to continue fighting as the title race reached its climax.

The attacking triumvirate of Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba all really failed to make their mark on the season as their midfield had to be relied on far too heavily to come up with regular goals.

Now, there can be no denying home truths like these, or indeed the fact that fans of Roman Abramovich’s wealthy club scored a whopping 31 goals less than eventual champions Manchester City in the league – they shot themselves in the foot by not hitting the target enough and by their inability to attract anyone with enough quality to make a difference in the “Goals Scored” department.

Cue the arrival of Diego Costa, Chelsea’s potential shot in the arm that looks set to become the target man and clinical goal-poacher they’ve been so desperately crying out for.

Transferring from European rivals Atletico Madrid during the summer, the 25-year-old has already been in red-hot form in pre-season, firing in two goals in the space of seven minutes against Real Sociedad in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful only very recently.

So, it’s clear he means business and is ready to haul his new club from last season’s nearly-men to rightful champions. He might very well be the missing link they need.

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#1 Cesc Fabregas

A household name around the globe, Cesc Fabregas has had years of success playing in England at the highest level. Obviously, fans of the Gunners will remember his time under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger fondly for his FA Cup-winning displays in 2005, and no doubt Blues supporters will be keen to see their multi-million pound investment reap some major rewards, too.

Still one of the best midfielders to currently play the game, the 27-year-old is thirsty to recapture the sparkling form of old that saw him transform from young wonder-kid to a regular, dead-cert, first team starter in the red and white of Arsenal. The “Special One” has the tenacity to whip any player into shape, and although Spain’s international certainly isn’t past his sell-by date, there remains plenty for him to work on in the coming few weeks.

With an already jam-packed midfield to contend with, the Barcelona youth product won’t feel particularly too far removed from his days at the Camp Nou where there were times when he found it difficult to make an impact. But his desire to win trophies with Chelsea that he couldn’t at Arsenal might well be the boosting fuel he needs to finally take home an English Champion’s medal.

Feeding a bolstered front-line as well as learning how to adapt once more to the British style of play are two main concerns fans will have until he procures a moment of domestic magic. But there’s a good feeling about his signature and he has all the right assets to make the move work.

Fingers crossed then, Chelsea fans.

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