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Chelsea are up and running this season. They have the UEFA Super Cup under their belt and are looking to win more silverware.
Thomas Tuchel has a plan in mind and the signing of Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee shows that Chelsea are ready to back the German. The former PSG and Borussia Dortmund manager will do all he can off the pitch, but on it, he will need help from his players.
Chelsea players need to step up and deliver for them this season in order to win more silverware. Here are
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5 players we believe will be crucial for Chelsea
#5 Edouard Mendy
Edouard Mendy started the UEFA Super Cup as he is the #1 goalkeeping choice at the club. However, Kepa Arrizabalaga stole the headlines as he came on for the penalty shoot-out and made two crucial saves.
The Senegal star has truly turned things around for Chelsea since joining them last summer. The Blues were leaking goals in Frank Lampard's first season, but the signing of Mendy helped them become one of the best defensive teams in the world.
Thomas Tuchel will be hoping for more of the same from Edouard Mendy this season as well. If he keeps his form, Chelsea could easily become the best defensive side as their defenders have already been in top form for over a year.
#4 N'Golo Kante
N'Golo Kante has been a key figure for Chelsea ever since he joined from Leicester City. The Frenchman commands the midfield and is a threat to opponents in every single game.
He is still dealing with some injury problems here and there, but Chelsea are doing well to manage the situation. This season will be no different as he has already missed the first game in the Premier League. Confirming the injury, Tuchel said:
"We decided to take him out and not risk him at the beginning of the season. I think N’Golo will be back in the middle of the week to get ready for Arsenal."
‘N’Golo felt discomfort in his ankle (on Friday). He [first] felt it in the warm-up in the Super Cup match against Villarreal. He played a little bit in pain and [on Friday] he felt it again.
If Thomas Tuchel manages N'Golo Kante well, the Frenchman will help the Blues lift more silverware and ease the pressure on Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic.
#3 Antonio Rudiger
Thiago Silva is expected to take the back seat at Chelsea this season as Thomas Tuchel aims to use him only in crunch matches. The Brazilian is 36-years-old and playing him week in and week out would make it impossible for him to remain fit throughout the season.
Antonio Rudiger is now set to become the most experienced player in the backline, and the German will have to take command. With the likes of Andreas Christensen and Trevoh Chalobah at his side, the former AS Roma star will have to put in a shift every week to keep Chelsea's defense solid.
However, he does have one big headache as his contract ends at the end of the season. Should he opt to keep the contract talks pending, Thomas Tuchel might be forced to bench him towards the end of the season.
#2 Timo Werner
The honeymoon period with the Chelsea fans is over and it is time for Timo Werner to deliver. The German will play a key role in Chelsea's attack this season as they aim to break teams on the counter.
With the signing of Romelu Lukaku, it is clear that Timo Werner will be playing as a left-winger or a left forward in most games.
The pressure of scoring goals will be reduced, but the German will know he needs to be delivering every week. He will have no choice as he will have to compete with Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi for his place.
Last season, Werner finished with 6 goals and 8 assists for Chelsea in the Premier League. With Lukaku present to help him now, those stats could very well be achieved by February.
#1 Romelu Lukaku
Ten years since initially joining Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku is back at the club he loves. The Belgian is now Chelsea's club-record signing, and with a £97 million price tag on his head, it won't be a surprise if he is under pressure from the word go.
Romelu Lukaku is back will a lot of experience and is the missing piece in Chelsea's starting XI. He has it in him to score goals in the big games and help his side in difficult situations.
Chelsea had Jorginho finish as the club's top scorer last season with 7 penalties – something that forced Thomas Tuchel and the board to spend big and bring in Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian will be raring to go and knows that he has a big role to play in the upcoming season for Chelsea.
