5 most underrated Chelsea players of the 21st century

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#3 Damien Duff

Damien Duff won the Premier League twice with Chelsea

Damien Duff's wing partnership with Arjen Robben is often seen as the key to Chelsea's Premier League success in the 2004/05 season.

Duff, a left-winger, joined Chelsea from Blackburn Rovers in 2003 for a fee of £22 million. The Republic of Ireland international endured a quiet first season and the arrival of Dutch winger Arjen Robben in 2004 seemed to threaten his position at the club. However, Duff's versatility was such that he operated on the right-wing, forming an effective partnership with Robben.

An intelligent player, Duff made 125 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, scoring 19 goals and providing 28 assists. He twice won the Premier League with Chelsea and left the club in 2006 to join Newcastle United. The 42-year-old retired in 2015.

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#2 John Obi Mikel

John Obi Mikel in action for Chelsea

One of the most underrated players to have played in the Premier League, John Obi Mikel was a quiet performer who did his job without any fuss.

His transfer to Chelsea was a controversial one, but he ultimately signed for the Blues from Lyn in 2006. The defensive midfielder's ability on the ball, as well as his intelligence and physical prowess, made him a tough player to play against.

Happy Birthday, John Obi Mikel! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/o9OBJqbnb0

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 22, 2021

While he was not a consistent starter for Chelsea in the Premier League, the Nigerian international notched up 372 appearances in all competitions for the club, winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy. He left the club in 2017 for Chinese club Tianjin TEDA (now Tianjin Jinmen Tiger). The 33-year-old currently plays for Championship side Stoke City.

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#1 Claude Makelele

Claude Makelele is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders to have played the game

While Mikel may have produced good performances as a defensive midfielder, it was Claude Makelele who defined the position.

The French international played for clubs like Marseille, Celta Vigo and Real Madrid, but it was at Chelsea where he enjoyed his best form. The Blues signed him from Los Blancos for a fee of £18 million in 2003. The move was met with disappointment from the Real Madrid players.

Nice touch @EASPORTSFIFA 🙏🏿 https://t.co/Qr0s1PEabl

— Claude Makélélé (@ClaudeMakelele) March 31, 2021

For Chelsea, this proved to be a shrewd acquisition. Makelele's ability to read the game, his positional awareness and defensive attributes endeared him at the club. He made 217 appearances in all competitions for the team, winning the Premier League twice and helping Chelsea become a feared club in the league.

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