Chelsea
have won the Premier League for the fourth time in their history, and this
is how the club's former captain and assistant manager Ray Wilkins has rated
the performance of their first-team squad this season...
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech - 8/10
He has not played that much, but I will give him an eight, first and
foremost for his professionalism. For the situation that he was put in, to
be one of the top goalkeepers in the world to all of a sudden be banished to
the bench, I think his attitude has been outstanding.
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois - 9/10
Well you cannot win anything in football unless you have the top, and
Courtois is one of the best. Chelsea are so fortunate to have the two
[goalkeepers], and I will give him a nine.
Right-back: Branislav Ivanovic - 8/10
He came in as a centre-half, again you would have to give him an eight
because he is as solid as a rock, dependable – all those type of words sum
up Ivanovic.
Left-back: Filipe Luis - 7/10
What he is is proven quality and because he has not played that much, I will
give him a seven. I think he has proven quality playing with Atletico, so it
was a good signing for me by Jose, but he needs to force his way in now.
Centre-back: Kurt Zouma - 7/10
He can play at centre-half and in a holding midfield role, where Jose has
used him. So from that aspect, no problem at all, and one for the future.
Centre-back: Gary Cahill - 7/10
He has improved out of all recognition to be perfectly honest. He has had a
good season after being put under a little bit of pressure by Jose’s
comments halfway through the year. And so I will give him seven out of 10
for the season that he has had, because he has done very well indeed and he
can only improve.
Centre-back: John Terry - 9.5/10
You have to give John 9.5. It is very difficult to give someone 10, although
he borders on 10 because of everything he does. Not only does he perform,
but everything else that he gives them.
Left-back: Cesar Azpilicueta - 8/10
He stopped [Filipe] Luis coming in and obviously it is not his favourite
side, playing on the left-hand side. But he is a solid defender and what
Mourinho relies heavily upon is the defensive set-up, and so I will give him
an eight.
Central midfielder: Cesc Fabregas - 8/10
I will give an eight. I thought in the first knockings of the league he was
absolutely outstanding when Chelsea were playing all their fluent football,
and he was one of the best players on the planet in that period. But he has
tailed off, there are no two ways about it.
Central/right midfielder: Ramires - 7.5/10
In and out, 7.5, again like Ivanovic, he is very reliable. He can play
holding [midfield] or wide right - he can do basically whatever you want him
to do and is a fantastic athlete.
Attacking midfielder: Oscar - 8/10
I like this guy a lot. He is creative and has a great work ethic. Brazilians
have an amazing work ethic. We talk about their quality with the ball, but I
think we underestimate what they do without the ball.
Attacking midfielder: Eden Hazard - 9.5/10
He is 9.5 as well, a superb season for him. He could not do it without the
rest - that has to be said- but his ability to create, and not only to
create, but to score as well, he has been an outstanding player this season.
Holding midfielder: John Obi Mikel - 7/10
I have not seen him and so he gets a seven as he is always there to come in
and do what he does, which he does really well indeed.
Holding midfielder: Nemanja Matic - 8.5/10
A beast in midfield. I think since his suspension he has dropped off as he
is one of those who needs to play week in, week out, right the way through
the season. He got a three-game suspension and since he has been back, he
has been average. But I think before that, the guy was absolutely brilliant.
Right midfielder: Willian - 8.5/10
A brilliant season for me, particularly the latter stages. When the others
have dropped, he has seemed to come to the fore, and I think that is what
Chelsea needed. I am a big, big fan of his and I think we will see more of
him next year.
Right winger: Juan Cuadrado - 7/10
He had a good World Cup and I think it was good business by Jose - who
obviously did not fancy Andre Schurrle - and so like for like, similar
money, it was a good deal.
Striker: Didier Drogba - 7.5
I will give Didier 7.5 because he is nowhere near the Drog of old. But again
he comes in and scores a vital goal at Leicester to bring them back into the
game, and he is one of those players who when the opposition see him step on
the pitch, they have a little bit of a flutter.
Striker: Loic Remy - 8
I thought he was a good signing for £8million and he scores goals, so I will
give him an eight, because when he has been called upon, he has stuck the
ball in the back of the net. He has obviously suffered with a few injuries
towards the latter stages, but I think he has done well.
Striker: Diego Costa - 9
I think he has had an outstanding season. He is a beast of a man and a bit
of a throwback to the old English centre-forward, which Alvaro Negredo was,
but he did not sustain it. And I think Diego Costa has sustained it and will
be even better next year.
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