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After a disappointing start to the season under manager Frank Lampard, Chelsea made the tough decision to sack the club legend. The appointment of Thomas Tuchel in January sparked a remarkable turnaround and the London club are now on the verge of winning their second Champions League title.
Tuchel has got the best out of the club's experienced heads and academy products and their upturn in form has been led by stellar performances in each area of the field.
On that note, here's a look at the five best Chelsea players of the 2020/21 season.
#5 Reece James
A product of Chelsea's youth academy, Reece James has established himself as one of Europe's best young fullbacks.
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After an impressive loan spell with Wigan Athletic in the 2018/19 Championship, James got his first break at Chelsea in 2019. The young Englishman notched up 37 appearances in his debut season, impressing Lampard enough to secure a starting spot for the 2020/21 campaign.
Replacing Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta at right back, James has showcased his talent, especially in the attacking third where his stellar passing and crossing abilities have yielded several goals.
Thomas Tuchel's first two games in charge saw James start from the bench, but the 21-year-old worked his way into the manager's plans. He has racked up six goal contributions (one goal, five assists) in 45 appearances for Chelsea this season, 27 of which have been under Tuchel.
#4 N'Golo Kante
The World Cup winner is widely considered one of the best holding midfielders in the world, as well as one of the hardest workers on a football pitch, covering every blade of grass.
N'Golo Kante, one of the few players to have won Premier League titles in successive seasons with different clubs, has recorded a staggering 138 tackles and interceptions in the 2020/21 season with a tackle success rate of 53%.
The 29-year-old has also completed over 50 passes on average in every league match, with a success rate of over 85%.
His defensive prowess was on full display against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals, where he won back possession a whopping 13 times - the most in the game.
Heaping praise on Kante, Thomas Tuchel once said in an interview, "If you play with N'Golo you always play with a minimum half a man more; this is unique."
#3 Antonio Rudiger
Antonio Rudiger has been one of Chelsea's standout players under Thomas Tuchel after initially struggling for game time under Frank Lampard.
Limited to just nine appearances under the Chelsea legend, Rudiger has hit his stride following Tuchel's arrival, notching up 23 appearances and registering an astounding 74% tackle success rate in the 2020/21 Premier League season.
The 28-year-old has also chipped in with 48 tackles + interceptions and helped keep 11 clean sheets.
Tuchel has converted Chelsea into a well-oiled machine and Rudiger has been a key figure behind their defensive solidity.
#2 Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva joined Chelsea on a free transfer ahead of the 2020/21 season after a trophy-laden eight-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain.
While big-money signings like Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner have failed to live up to expectations, Thiago Silva has played a starring role as the leader of Chelsea's defense.
The Brazilian, who has made 32 appearances in all competitions this season, has played a part in 10 clean sheets, recording a tackle success rate of over 60%.
#1 Mason Mount
Mason Mount has been Chelsea's best player this season by a mile. A regular starter under Lampard, Mount quickly impressed his new boss Thomas Tuchel with his tremendous work rate and energy in the middle of the park.
The young Englishman has made 52 appearances in all competitions for the Blues, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists.
Mount has played in 84% of Chelsea's minutes in the Premier League this season and has been directly involved in one out of every five goals for the Blues.
Since Tuchel’s arrival, Mount has managed to elevate his game, often playing as one of the inside forwards but with the license to roam. He has netted six times under the German, including a memorable winner at Anfield in March.
Mount was named Chelsea's Player of the Year this week and will be hoping to add team glory to his individual success by guiding the London club to the Champions League title.
