After
Chelsea won their fourth Premier League title in 10 years, we asked the
club’s former captain and assistant manager Ray Wilkins to pick their best
team from 2005 to the present...
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
He has obviously stood the test of time. He has been there for the whole
period and it is only because they have another outstanding goalkeeper in
[Thibaut] Courtois that Petr does not play. But there will be lots of
suitors after him when the season finishes.
Right-back: Branislav Ivanovic
He has developed into an awesome right full-back. He came as a centre-half,
but he is so strong and he scores goals and is a top-drawer defender. First
and foremost you have to be able to defend.
Centre-back: Ricardo Carvalho
When he turned up alongside John Terry, you had the traditional strong
English centre-half with the pace and the football of Carvalho at
centre-half, having just come off winning the Champions League with Porto.
He was a swift, sweeper type of player, who could come out with the ball
quite comfortably and score goals as well.
Centre-back: John Terry (C)
Nothing more needs to be said.
Left-back: Ashley Cole
One of the finest England full-backs there has ever been, if not the best
full-back, although I think it is a big toss-up between him and Kenny Sansom
who was the best left-back.
Holding midfielder: Claude Makelele
Then the man who made the position his own – the Makelele holding-midfield
role – somebody that was outstanding in his passing ability, but his value
to the team was something incredible, sat in front of the back two. He did
not allow anybody to move.
Michael Essien may have had a greater range of passing than Makelele as a
holding midfielder, but Claude was the governor of all holding midfielders
in the way that he performed. He just had a sense of where to be at a given
period of time. And, believe it or not, he used to run 14km a game.
Midfielder: Frank Lampard
Goes without saying. Goals, goals, goals - 20 goals-plus a season for the
last 10 years.
Midfielder: Willian
I love Willian, I think he has been an absolute delight this year. What he
gives you is he transforms defence into attack in the blink of an eye and
he’s gone. He is a super footballer and has a magnificent work ethic and I
think that is what Mourinho likes in his players. If I had not selected him,
I would have gone with Michael Ballack instead, but I just think that
Willian gives you a little bit more creativity and flair going forward and
goals.
Left-winger: Eden Hazard
You have Hazard on the left side. He has been magnificent this year, an
absolute dream to watch, week-in, week-out as you know.
Right-winger: Arjen Robben
Robben on the other side with pace and power and probably playing maybe his
best football now with Bayern Munich rather than then. But I just thought
that I would put Robben in for that pace down the right side.
Striker: Didier Drogba
There is only one Drog, there always has been and I do not think there will
ever be another one.
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