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When Maurizio Sarri took over the Chelsea job after the departure of Antonio Conte in 2018, there was widespread excitement around West London. With the imminent arrival of 'Sarriball', it seemed as though Chelsea would turn a corner and go on to become a dominant force in English football once again. Blues' fans eagerly looked forward to Sarri bringing the eye-catching style of play he had showcased at Napoli to Stamford Bridge. They were even more sold once Sarri brought in the likes of Jorginho, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mateo Kovacic to strengthen the squad.
However, the season did not go as planned and despite Chelsea winning the UEFA Europa League, Sarri departed as the calls for his head among fans grew louder and louder. They complained that his predictable style of play, uninspiring substitutions and blind faith in certain players (read Jorginho) was just not working and that the club needed a change.
The situation only got worse in the summer of 2019, as, just a week before Sarri left, Eden Hazard confirmed his move to Real Madrid, resulting in Chelsea losing one of their best player of this decade. Furthermore, the transfer ban imposed on the club in February meant that they would not be able to sign an immediate replacement.
Things looked bleak heading into the current season under new manager and club legend Frank Lampard with a relatively young and inexperienced squad at his disposal. A 4-0 opening day thrashing at the hands of Manchester United added to his woes. However, Chelsea have surprised one and all with their excellent performances so far and the integration of various youth players into the first team setup.
Indeed, for many pundits, who said that a top-half finish would be a job well done, Chelsea's form has come as a slap in the face. The West London side now faces a very real and exciting possibility of finishing as high as third in the league, which would truly be a fantastic achievement.
So, let us have a look at three players who have been crucial to Chelsea's superb form thus far this season.
#3: Mason Mount
Mason Mount may have been born in Portsmouth but there can be no doubt that he is a Chelsea lad, through and through. Mount joined the Blues' academy in 2005, at the age of 6, and remained there until 2017, when he got his first taste of senior football on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, in the Netherlands. Mount impressed and even won the club's player of the year award. The next season, he got the opportunity to work with Frank Lampard, at Derby County. Another loan spell, this time in the English Championship where he gave a good account of himself as the rams almost secured promotion to the Premier League.
Mount was handed his Chelsea debut by his idol on the opening day of this season, when Chelsea visited Old Trafford in the Premier League. It was a game which did not end well for the Blues but by the same token they were unlucky to lose. Since then, however, Mount has been absolutely sensational.
An attacking midfielder who often plays in the number 10 role in a 4-2-3-1 system, or as a creative outlet in the middle of the park in a 4-3-3, Mount has provided the spark which Chelsea have needed this season. He has pulled his fair share of weight defensively too, leading Lampard's press efficiently and tracking back to help his team win the ball back.
He has scored four goals and provided one assist in 10 matches thus far, averaging 2.4 shots a game and making 1.9 ball recoveries per game in the process. He also makes 33.2 passes per game at an 82.2% completion rate.
Mount is already a key player in this Chelsea team and can only get better, which is a frightening prospect for opposition teams and a delight for the Blues.
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#2: Tammy Abraham
Looking at Tammy Abraham, it is easy to classify him as a striker of the old mould; strong in the air, lethal with his head and maybe not quite excellent with the ball at his feet. In essence, he can lazily be called a pure target man but there is so much more to his game than that.
Like Mount, Abraham too graduated from Chelsea's youth academy after joining in 2004. He was handed his Chelsea debut in 2016 by then-caretaker manager, Guus Hiddink in a 1-1 draw away to Liverpool at the end of the 2015-16 Premier League season. The following season, new manager Antonio Conte sent Abraham out on loan to Bristol City. This was the first of three consecutive loan spells the youngster would experience. In total, Abraham managed 53 goals in 109 games for Bristol, Swansea City and Aston Villa.
Abraham made his first Chelsea start in the same game that Mount debuted in and nearly made the perfect start, when he struck the post early on. As the game went on, it was clear that Abraham was more than a bully of a striker. He had a decent turn of pace and his acceleration could take defenders by surprise time and time again.
Abraham has scored eight goals so far this season, in just nine starts. He averages 3.1 shots per game, 2.6 of which are inside the penalty area, which shows he is adept at working good shooting positions and is always trying to take full advantage. For good measure, he has also won a total of 32 aerial duels.
With the talent to make it at the very highest level, Abraham could well become a world-beater in the years to come if he continues in this vein of form.
#1: Jorginho
When Maurizio Sarri brought Jorginho to Chelsea from Napoli, Chelsea fans felt that he was the final piece of the Sarriball puzzle they had seen at Napoli and now wanted to see at their club.
However, it was not to be, as opposition teams and managers quickly found out that, due to his importance, Chelsea's system effectively broke down if the play didn't go through him. As a result, Jorginho was often ineffective, being marked out of games by opposing midfielders, and when he did get on the ball, he played sideways and backwards passes, rather than looking to be more adventurous.
Indeed, many felt that Jorginho had no future under Lampard, as he would be physically unable to adapt to the energetic, high-pressing style of play the Englishman sought to implement at Stamford Bridge. However, he has reinvented himself, covering excellently in N'Golo Kante's absence. Even if Jorginho is not Chelsea's best player this season, he is undoubtedly their most improved.
An accusation that was levelled against Jorginho last term was that he didn't work hard enough defensively and it is an area of his game he has definitely worked on. He is now averaging 4.1 attempted tackles per game, compared to 3.4 last season. He is also winning more tackles, 2.5 this season compared to 2.1 previously.
Lampard has also helped him improve his passing effectiveness. Jorginho now completes 10 fewer passes per game this season compared to last season but provides more passes leading to shots, 1.2 versus 0.75. He has also been encouraged to carry the ball through midfield more this season.
Now 27, Jorginho is approaching the peak of his career, and could become a stalwart of the Chelsea midfield for the near future.
