Chelsea player ratings for the 2020-21 Premier League season

Chelsea pulled the curtains on another Premier League campaign last week and it was a fairly successful one.

A fourth-place finish and a place in next year's Champions League was the bare minimum and the Blues accomplished just that. But given their lavish expenditure over the summer, fans were expecting a sustained title challenge too.

Injuries once again played spoilsport as many of their key players missed time, while Frank Lampard was given the boot in January this year. Thomas Tuchel replaced the Chelsea legend before working his magic and guiding the team to two cup finals.

With their league campaign done and dusted, it's time for us to review exactly how Chelsea's players fared over the course of the last nine months, and let's grade each of them based on their performances too.

2020-21 Premier League: Chelsea player ratings

Goalkeepers

Edouard Mendy proved to be a panacea to all of Chelsea's goalkeeping woes

Edouard Mendy - 9/10

Of the slew of new arrivals at Stamford Bridge last summer, Edouard Mendy was comfortably the best. Not much was known about him at the start, but now he's the name on every Chelsea fan's lips.

The Senegalese was impressive between the sticks, his top-drawer performances soothing all the goalkeeping pain caused by the erroneous Kepa Arrizabalaga last year. Mendy registered 16 clean sheets, the most in the Premier League after only Ederson.

It's hard to believe that he is only 23 years old, as Mendy's skills thoroughly belie his age, and will only get better. For now though, his big saves will be needed more than ever as Chelsea play Manchester City in the Champions League final this week.

Kepa Arrizabalaga - 5/10

Kepa Arrizabalaga's decline from being Chelsea's most expensive goalkeeper to an internet meme is well-documented. And following the arrival of Mendy, he was consigned to the bench for most of the season.

The Spaniard made just seven appearances in the league and even in limited gametime offered no great shakes, instead conceding eight goals and keeping only two clean sheets.

He looked better in FA Cup games though and might remain a cup player until the former Athletic Bilbao custodian proves his mettle again.

Willy Caballero - N/A

The estranged Argentine, Chelsea's third-choice in goal, made just a single appearance in the Premier League all season. He was let down by some appalling mistakes by the defense which saw him concede thrice in the 3-3 draw against West Brom on matchday three.

He's unlikely to remain at Stamford Bridge beyond this summer.

Centre-backs

Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen went from being on the fringes to key figures under Tuchel

Kurt Zouma - 7/10

A trusted lieutenant of Frank Lampard, the Frenchman lost his place in the side after the arrival of Thomas Tuchel. The German manager's system of three-man defense pushed Zouma down the pecking order and he played only a bit-part role in the second-half of the campaign.

The defender remains an excellent prospect, turning in decent shifts whenever on the field and even scoring five times. However, Zouma will be concerned about his first-team opportunities and might as well find himself looking for newer pastures in the summer.

Andreas Christensen - 7.5/10

The Dane's fortunes played out exactly the opposite way as he went from being a bench-warmer under Lampard to a fixture in Tuchel's XI, and he duly repaid the faith with excellent performances.

He passed the ball around with unerring accuracy and read the game brilliantly, averaging over three clearances per game. His season was curtailed by a ligament injury, causing him to miss the final three games of the season, and Chelsea struggled defensively in his absence.

Antonio Rudiger - 8/10

Another beneficiary of Tuchel's arrival, Antonio Rudiger was barely seen during the first-half of the campaign, but took the second by storm, making the centre-back position his own with top performances.

It's no coincidence that Chelsea went from conceding 1.34 goals per game without him in the lineup to 0.54 with the German marshaling their backline - no wonder Chelsea are so eager to extend his contract, which expires next year.

Thiago Silva - 8.5/10

Chelsea appeared to take a gamble on the 36-year-old Thiago Silva, though he arrived on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain and fresh off a Champions League final appearance.

Fast forward your calendar to the present day and his signing has instead proved to be a daylight robbery, for Silva has been a leader at the back and transformed the side's defense.

He gave the league's most formidable strikers a tough run for their money and averaged over five clearances per game! Chelsea are now set to extend his contract by another year.

Full-backs

Chilwell proved his worth to Chelsea with a stellar debut campaign

Ben Chilwell - 8/10

What a resounding debut season by Ben Chilwell! The left-back's campaign was initially delayed with a foot injury, but once into the squad, he looked right at home and took to his new surroundings like a fish to water.

With three goals and five assists, the former Leicester City defender had the highest goal contribution of all Premier League defenders barring Trent Alexander-Arnold (9). The England international demonstrated the potential to become a defensive cornerstone at Chelsea for the considerable future.

Marcos Alonso - 5/10

A season to forget for Marcos Alonso, whose time at Stamford Bridge appears to be over. When he first arrived, the Spaniard was a breath of fresh air with his precocious attacking instincts and a keen eye for goal. But Alonso now looks surplus to Chelsea's requirements after making just 13 league appearances.

Emerson - N/A

Here's another player who's half out the door. Emerson, since arriving from AS Roma in 2017, has never been able to force his way into any of the four Chelsea manager's sides that he's played with. Following just 88 minutes of action in the Premier League this season, he will most likely seek greener pastures.

Reece James - 7.5/10

Reece James successfully built on his promise of last season to become a key cog in this Chelsea side. He played in various positions throughout the campaign and showcased his versatility by excelling in all of them.

Particularly eye-catching were his performances in midfield, from where James caused a lot of problems by flitting around in the gaps to adroitly knit their attacks together whilst never abandoning his defensive responsibilities.

What a baller. He's got a bright future ahead of him and has been named in England's provisional squad for the upcoming Euros too.

Cesar Azpilicueta - 8/10

The captain fantastic transformed into a mercurial centre-back this season as he was an indispensable part of Chelsea's back-three. The veteran kept opposition attackers in check with his strength and helped build from the back with excellent distribution of the ball.

His performances have transcended boundaries too, as Luis Enrique has named Azpilicueta in the provisional Spain squad for the upcoming Euros, marking his first call-up since November 2018.

Midfielders

Jorginho - 6.5/10

Besides a few decent performances, this season was a huge drop-off for the Italian, who committed several mistakes, so much so that fans were even baying for his blood. But to his credit, Jorginho was once again clinical from the spot, netting seven penalties, which is somehow the most goals scored by a Chelsea player in the Premier League this season!

N'Golo Kante - 8.5/10

Where do we even begin with N'Golo Kante? Frankly, we're exhausted of superlatives to describe the midfield phenom as he capped off another fine campaign for Chelsea: unbeatable on the ball, technically flawless, commanding of his area, and countless ball recoveries.

Mateo Kovacic - 7/10

Barring a muscle injury late on, the diminutive Croatian was a mainstay in Tuchel's side, making a difference with his ability to carry the ball forward and working very hard when not in possession too. His influence at Chelsea has grown by leaps and bounds lately, and is just entering the peak of his career at 27.

Billy Gilmour - N/A

Billy Gilmour emerged as Chelsea's potential star last year with his promising displays. However, his development ran into a stonewall due to a knee injury that derailed his entire season. The 19-year old played full 90 minutes against Fulham and Manchester City earlier this month and looked alright, suggesting he's on the road to a full recovery.

Kai Havertz - 7/10

Chelsea's most expensive buy last summer, Kai Havertz couldn't really live up to his potential in what was a fairly difficult debut campaign. To be fair, he showed promising signs in the second-half with improved performances, though his rightful position in the side is still a matter of debate. He contributed nine goals in total for the Blues (scoring four and assisting five) in the Premier League.

Mason Mount - 9/10

Chelsea's player of the season and with some good measure too. Mason Mount was in a league of his own, tearing defenses asunder with his creative skills and stepping up to the plate in key moments, such as netting the winner against Liverpool at Anfield. He's become the side's lynchpin and the best part is, the midfielder is still only 22!

Forwards

Chelsea's attackers had a hard time in front of goal this season

Hakim Ziyech - 6/10

A combination of injuries and lack of competitive games under his belt for several months at the start of the season made Hakim Ziyech's first year at Chelsea one to forget, as he also struggled to nail down a position in the side.

His form in the second-half of the season particularly showed the Moroccan is yet to adapt to his new surroundings, though he's still got the potential to succeed. A clean bill of health and more consistency on the pitch would bring out the wizard that mesmerized everyone at Ajax.

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 6/10

It's a shame Callum Hudson-Odoi, for all his promise and high ratings, still hasn't managed to nail down a starting berth at Chelsea. Despite some encouraging displays around the turn of the year, he continued to struggle for gametime. The latest reports suggest the Blues are open to listening to offers for him, should the player decide he wants to leave. Another homegrown talent wasted at Stamford Bridge.

Christian Pulisic - 6.5/10

While his talent is undeniable, Christian Pulisic is yet to add a ruthless streak to his game in Chelsea colors, for his best period has only come in fits and starts. Just like last year, the 22-year-old improved during the home stretch of the campaign, even scoring against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Ultimately, the jury is still out on Pulisic, who's yet to realize his full potential.

Timo Werner - 6.5/10

Of all the new signings Chelsea made last year, Timo Werner was the one most fans were excited about, but he was a rather damp squib, missing plenty of sitters and simply lacking the attacking flair that made him a star at RB Leipzig.

But on the bright side, the German showcased a lesser-known, creative side of his game by making eight league assists, more than any player in the squad. He was brought in to score goals and the fans will hope Werner finds his finishing touch next season.

Tammy Abraham - 6.5/10

Tammy Abraham's resounding breakthrough last season led everyone to believe that he might be the solution to Chelsea's attacking woes. The arrival of new players, however, severely hampered his development this season, with injuries in the second-half of the campaign only making it worse.

Make no mistake, the 23-year-old remains a talented prospect and has the potential to blossom into a Premier League great. But for that, he needs to play regularly, something which now seems unlikely at Stamford Bridge.

Olivier Giroud - 6.5/10

He's been Chelsea's talisman in the Champions League, but has struggled for gametime in the Premier League again, mainly due to competition for places. However, the Spaniard impressed during the Christmas period, scoring in three of his four starts.

Since arriving from Arsenal a couple of years ago, Giroud has been an impact substitute and has scored many important goals. Unfortunately, with his contract with Chelsea set to expire in the summer, chances are that he might leave in search of regular football.

About the author

He's been a die-hard football fan for the past 12 years and found love in Real Madrid while Cristiano Ronaldo is his all-time favorite player. Won't shut about Real Madrid's three-peat in the Champions League.

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Edited by Parimal