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DM: Claude Makelele
Makelele's transfer in 2003 is commonly described as one of the most influential transfers in the history of Chelsea football club. It is one of the most perplexing exits sanctioned by Real Madrid. However, if Claude Makelele had continued in Spain, his legendary status might well have suffered in football.
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There were few who initially understood the importance of the Frenchman in the football system. But the more they saw of him in English football, the faster the perception changed. He was the perfect screen to protect the rearguard and became the bedrock on which Chelsea's attack nurtured and flourished.
Makelele's positional awareness and robust tackling were a delight to watch in midfield. Even against the most attacking outfits, the Frenchman did not break a sweat while constantly having to shield and stop the opposition from building momentum. Eventually, the ace immortalized himself in football by leaving his signature forever in what is aptly described as the "Makelele role".
DM: N'Golo Kante
Observe N'Golo Kante for a few minutes and the immediate words that one can describe him by are humble, sweet and friendly. Well, wait until you get a glimpse of him on-field and you'll know that he's a different beast. A technically gifted player, Kante is said to be the closest one has come to Makelele.
The Chelsea ace is often known for recovering balls, relentlessly marking the opposition and sustaining the press. However, he is equally adept at holding the ball and dribbling his way out of tight pockets. The France international signed for Chelsea in 2016 on the back of a Premier League winning season with Leicester City.
He improved the Blues by a big margin in his first season itself, who had finished 10th in the previous campaign and won the league with them. Kante has a great reserve of stamina and until the very last whistle he just goes covering the ground for fun. In his five years at Chelsea, he has won the Champions League, Europa League and the Premier League.
AM: Juan Mata
Juan Mata is mostly serving as furniture, well to put it politely, a rarely used squad member at Manchester United these days. His glorious Chelsea past is edging closer to oblivion. However, don't let the sight of a humble and innocent looking man fool you into thinking that he is what he shows.
Turn back the clock and move back to the days of Mata in a Chelsea shirt. Thrills, creativity, magic and cold-bloodedness are some of the adjectives you'll feel immediately. Two and a half seasons, 135 appearances and a goal contribution every 109 minutes was the Spaniard's strike-rate at Chelsea.
No defensive barrier was good enough to stop Mata, who could play on either wing and behind the striker with his productivity staying intact. He was part-creator, part-finisher and he brought his most dangerous self to west London.
When he left Chelsea in 2014 for Manchester United, he had won two of the most prestigious continental trophies, the Champions League and Europa League. His cultured left-foot and pleasant personality will always be fondly remembered when Blues fans talk about their best foreign imports.
