Pedro vs Mount? Hazard vs Pulisic? Picking an XI from Chelsea’s 2017 and 2022 sides
Just coming across an old team sheet can get you thinking.
During a belated spring clean, sitting in a box packed full of bills and paraphernalia, was a reminder of the day Chelsea last clinched the Premier League when they beat West Brom 1-0 on May 12, 2017.
Chelsea haven’t come close to finishing top since then, with Manchester City and Liverpool usurping them in the table. Their acquisitions of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez mean bridging the gap isn’t going to get any easier.
It is not as if Chelsea have been quiet in the market during this time. The club-record purchase of Romelu Lukaku last summer took their spending on new talent over five years to nearly £800 million, and that’s despite serving a one-window ban in 2019.
Yet going over some of the 11 names who started that title-decider at West Bromwich Albion sparked the question of how many of the current crop, now lacking the inspirational Antonio Rudiger, would get in that side. With the teams using a similar formation, the task of comparing players is made even easier, so this is The Athletic’s take. Will you agree?
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois (2017) vs Edouard Mendy (2022)
If this was a popularity contest, there’d only be one winner. Courtois has still not been forgiven by the fanbase for the manner in which he left Stamford Bridge in 2018.
Both are among the best goalkeepers in the world and Mendy has certainly been an astute acquisition. However, Chelsea won two Premier Leagues with Courtois performing consistently between the posts and that record has to give him the edge.
Winner: Courtois (2017)
Right centre-back
Cesar Azpilicueta (2017) vs Trevoh Chalobah (2022)
Not really a fair fight this one given Azpilicueta’s greater experience. Obviously there is a bit of a flaw in this category because the Spaniard is still a Chelsea player. But the 2017 version was a man at the peak of his powers and a vital cog in making Antonio Conte’s system work. Chalobah is a talent, but clearly still has much to learn having played for only one season at this level.
Winner: Azpilicueta (2017)
Centre-back
David Luiz (2017) vs Thiago Silva (2022)
Both Brazilian and both exemplary on the ball. However, when it comes to defending Silva is far more reliable, even at the age of 37. David Luiz was quite a character and enjoyed one of his best campaigns in 2016-17, but his compatriot has been compared with former captain John Terry. That says it all.
Winner: Silva (2022)
Left centre-back
Gary Cahill (2017) vs Malang Sarr (2022)
If Rudiger was still at the club, it would be so much harder to choose. The Germany international was very good for Chelsea. There will be many who regard him greater than Cahill, but the latter was underrated for some reason despite claiming eight major trophies in eight seasons.
Chelsea are deciding how to replace Rudiger following his move to Real Madrid, yet no one will argue that current contender Sarr has come close to matching Cahill’s achievements.
Winner: Cahill (2017)
Right wing-back
Victor Moses (2017) vs Reece James (2022)
This didn’t require any deliberation. Moses was a surprise success story under Conte and should be acknowledged for the part he played in the 2017 championship win. But James is on a different level entirely and is rated as one of the best right wing-backs in Europe, let alone in England.
Winner: James (2022)
Left wing-back
Marcos Alonso (2017) vs Ben Chilwell (2022)
This competition is ongoing as the duo are still at the club. No defender has scored more goals in England’s top division than Alonso since he signed for Chelsea from Fiorentina six years ago. But until he suffered a serious knee injury last November, Chilwell had proved what a brilliant asset he is for the club at the back as well as in attack. That defensive nous, allied with an offensive threat, gives Chilwell the edge.
Winner: Chilwell (2022)
Right central midfield
Cesc Fabregas (2017) vs Jorginho (2022)
Two men who like the ball at their feet so they can dictate play. In terms of passing, though, Fabregas stood out because he looked to create more chances rather than prioritising keeping possession. The Spain midfielder didn’t play as regularly under Conte, but still managed five Premier League goals and 12 assists in 2016-17, whereas Jorginho managed six goals (all penalties) and two assists last season.
Had N’Golo Kante been in the first XI, as he was on 35 occasions under Conte, against West Brom, he would have come out on top as he was outstanding in that campaign.
Winner: Fabregas (2017)
Left central midfield
Nemanja Matic (2017) vs Mateo Kovacic (2022)
One of the reasons Matic left Chelsea for Manchester United after winning the title in 2017 was that he felt underappreciated at the club. He was a consistent, albeit unspectacular, performer for Conte. Supporters admire Kovacic a lot more because of his knack for beating an opponent’s press with a fancy dribble or trick — plus there was that volley against Liverpool.
Winner: Kovacic (2022)
Right forward
Pedro (2017) vs Mason Mount (2022)
Probably the hardest pick. Pedro was a great threat for Chelsea, as his impressive return of nine goals and 10 assists during 2016-17 demonstrates. But despite playing in a weaker side, Mount provided 11 goals and 10 assists in 2021-22, so just comes out on top.
Winner: Mount (2022)
Striker
Diego Costa (2017) vs Romelu Lukaku/Kai Havertz (2022)
A significant contrast here. Costa could be relied upon to make the difference in front of goal. He is the last Chelsea player to find the net 20 times in the top division. It wasn’t just about the strike rate though; his combative attitude distracted and bullied opposition defenders into submission. Lukaku and Havertz have shared the role under Thomas Tuchel, but haven’t come close to matching Costa’s output yet.
Winner: Costa (2017)
Left forward
Eden Hazard (2017) vs Christian Pulisic (2022)
There are a few similarities between the two players: they are of a similar stature, like to operate in the same way and both got to wear the iconic No 10 shirt at Chelsea. But Hazard is one of the greatest players in the club’s history, whereas Pulisic remains one of their greatest enigmas.
Winner: Hazard (2017)
It has come as a surprise that the vote is so close, with Chelsea’s 2017 outfit just beating the 2022 version 6-5. Obviously this analysis doesn’t take into account the quality of the whole squad, nor the gulf in quality between certain individuals. For example, Costa and Hazard’s talents were far superior to the men who replaced them, although the latter have time to improve.
Tuchel has another transfer window to add more recruits and it is vital the money is spent wisely. But it seems like he still has some good ingredients already in place to build a competitive side around.
https://theathletic.com/3364220/2022/06/16/chelsea-squad-picks-2017-2022/
Pedro vs Mount? Hazard vs Pulisic? Picking an XI from Chelsea’s 2017 and 2022 sides
Just coming across an old team sheet can get you thinking.
During a belated spring clean, sitting in a box packed full of bills and paraphernalia, was a reminder of the day Chelsea last clinched the Premier League when they beat West Brom 1-0 on May 12, 2017.
Chelsea haven’t come close to finishing top since then, with Manchester City and Liverpool usurping them in the table. Their acquisitions of Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez mean bridging the gap isn’t going to get any easier.
It is not as if Chelsea have been quiet in the market during this time. The club-record purchase of Romelu Lukaku last summer took their spending on new talent over five years to nearly £800 million, and that’s despite serving a one-window ban in 2019.
Yet going over some of the 11 names who started that title-decider at West Bromwich Albion sparked the question of how many of the current crop, now lacking the inspirational Antonio Rudiger, would get in that side. With the teams using a similar formation, the task of comparing players is made even easier, so this is The Athletic’s take. Will you agree?
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois (2017) vs Edouard Mendy (2022)
If this was a popularity contest, there’d only be one winner. Courtois has still not been forgiven by the fanbase for the manner in which he left Stamford Bridge in 2018.
Both are among the best goalkeepers in the world and Mendy has certainly been an astute acquisition. However, Chelsea won two Premier Leagues with Courtois performing consistently between the posts and that record has to give him the edge.
Winner: Courtois (2017)
Right centre-back
Cesar Azpilicueta (2017) vs Trevoh Chalobah (2022)
Not really a fair fight this one given Azpilicueta’s greater experience. Obviously there is a bit of a flaw in this category because the Spaniard is still a Chelsea player. But the 2017 version was a man at the peak of his powers and a vital cog in making Antonio Conte’s system work. Chalobah is a talent, but clearly still has much to learn having played for only one season at this level.
Winner: Azpilicueta (2017)
Centre-back
David Luiz (2017) vs Thiago Silva (2022)
Both Brazilian and both exemplary on the ball. However, when it comes to defending Silva is far more reliable, even at the age of 37. David Luiz was quite a character and enjoyed one of his best campaigns in 2016-17, but his compatriot has been compared with former captain John Terry. That says it all.
Winner: Silva (2022)
Left centre-back
Gary Cahill (2017) vs Malang Sarr (2022)
If Rudiger was still at the club, it would be so much harder to choose. The Germany international was very good for Chelsea. There will be many who regard him greater than Cahill, but the latter was underrated for some reason despite claiming eight major trophies in eight seasons.
Chelsea are deciding how to replace Rudiger following his move to Real Madrid, yet no one will argue that current contender Sarr has come close to matching Cahill’s achievements.
Winner: Cahill (2017)
Right wing-back
Victor Moses (2017) vs Reece James (2022)
This didn’t require any deliberation. Moses was a surprise success story under Conte and should be acknowledged for the part he played in the 2017 championship win. But James is on a different level entirely and is rated as one of the best right wing-backs in Europe, let alone in England.
Winner: James (2022)
Left wing-back
Marcos Alonso (2017) vs Ben Chilwell (2022)
This competition is ongoing as the duo are still at the club. No defender has scored more goals in England’s top division than Alonso since he signed for Chelsea from Fiorentina six years ago. But until he suffered a serious knee injury last November, Chilwell had proved what a brilliant asset he is for the club at the back as well as in attack. That defensive nous, allied with an offensive threat, gives Chilwell the edge.
Winner: Chilwell (2022)
Right central midfield
Cesc Fabregas (2017) vs Jorginho (2022)
Two men who like the ball at their feet so they can dictate play. In terms of passing, though, Fabregas stood out because he looked to create more chances rather than prioritising keeping possession. The Spain midfielder didn’t play as regularly under Conte, but still managed five Premier League goals and 12 assists in 2016-17, whereas Jorginho managed six goals (all penalties) and two assists last season.
Had N’Golo Kante been in the first XI, as he was on 35 occasions under Conte, against West Brom, he would have come out on top as he was outstanding in that campaign.
Winner: Fabregas (2017)
Left central midfield
Nemanja Matic (2017) vs Mateo Kovacic (2022)
One of the reasons Matic left Chelsea for Manchester United after winning the title in 2017 was that he felt underappreciated at the club. He was a consistent, albeit unspectacular, performer for Conte. Supporters admire Kovacic a lot more because of his knack for beating an opponent’s press with a fancy dribble or trick — plus there was that volley against Liverpool.
Winner: Kovacic (2022)
Right forward
Pedro (2017) vs Mason Mount (2022)
Probably the hardest pick. Pedro was a great threat for Chelsea, as his impressive return of nine goals and 10 assists during 2016-17 demonstrates. But despite playing in a weaker side, Mount provided 11 goals and 10 assists in 2021-22, so just comes out on top.
Winner: Mount (2022)
Striker
Diego Costa (2017) vs Romelu Lukaku/Kai Havertz (2022)
A significant contrast here. Costa could be relied upon to make the difference in front of goal. He is the last Chelsea player to find the net 20 times in the top division. It wasn’t just about the strike rate though; his combative attitude distracted and bullied opposition defenders into submission. Lukaku and Havertz have shared the role under Thomas Tuchel, but haven’t come close to matching Costa’s output yet.
Winner: Costa (2017)
Left forward
Eden Hazard (2017) vs Christian Pulisic (2022)
There are a few similarities between the two players: they are of a similar stature, like to operate in the same way and both got to wear the iconic No 10 shirt at Chelsea. But Hazard is one of the greatest players in the club’s history, whereas Pulisic remains one of their greatest enigmas.
Winner: Hazard (2017)
It has come as a surprise that the vote is so close, with Chelsea’s 2017 outfit just beating the 2022 version 6-5. Obviously this analysis doesn’t take into account the quality of the whole squad, nor the gulf in quality between certain individuals. For example, Costa and Hazard’s talents were far superior to the men who replaced them, although the latter have time to improve.
Tuchel has another transfer window to add more recruits and it is vital the money is spent wisely. But it seems like he still has some good ingredients already in place to build a competitive side around.
https://theathletic.com/3364220/2022/06/16/chelsea-squad-picks-2017-2022/
