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In the past week or so, a lot has changed at Chelsea Football Club. The Blues made the tough decision to part with Frank Lampard midway through the season, as the Englishman failed to turn around a series of underwhelming results at Stamford Bridge.
Former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel took over the reins from Lampard and oversaw a 0-0 draw against Wolves in his first game in charge. The Blues will look to recover in the second half of the season and secure a place in the Premier League top four, as they look to confirm their place in the UEFA Champions League for the second season running.
While Chelsea have not endured a season to remember after a massive outlay of over 200 million in the summer transfer window, a handful of players have impressed this season.
On that note, here are Chelsea's top five players so far this season.
#5 Reece James
Reece James made a massive impression last season after a successful loan spell with Wigan Athletic in the 2018-19 season. The Englishman took his time to break into Lampard's starting XI but quickly proved his worth with a series of eye-catching displays on both ends of the pitch.
Blessed with an incredible passing range and crossing ability, James has also proved his worth defensively, as he continues to establish himself as one of the best young players in the world in his position.
In the 2020-21 season, the youngster displaced club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and made the right-back spot his own under Lampard. James has failed to start the first two games under Tuchel, but the academy graduate is sure to play a big role in the German manager's team sheet in the coming weeks.
#5 Ben Chilwell
James' full-back partner Ben Chilwell has also impressed for the Blues this season, with the England international making quite the impression after his big-money move from Leicester City in the summer.
Known for his work-rate and crossing ability, Chilwell is one of the first names in the team sheet and is ahead of Marcos Alonso and Emerson in the pecking order for Chelsea. Chelsea paid massive money to secure his signature, but the former Leicester man has already proved his worth and looks set to play a key role for the club in the coming years.
Chilwell is yet to realize his full potential, but the 24-year-old has enough time to develop his game under the tutelage of Tuchel, who comes with a proven track record of improving several young players.
#3 Olivier Giroud
Despite having several high-profile attackers at the club like Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud, Chelsea has often turned to Olivier Giroud to bail them out of tricky situations this season. The Frenchman is one of the most underrated strikers of his generation and produced the goods more often than not when fit.
In 19 appearances across all competitions this season, Giroud has scored nine goals so far, including a stunning four-goal haul against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League.
The 34-year-old also started the first game under Thomas Tuchel and could well play a pivotal role in changing Chelsea's fortunes in the second half of the season.
#2 Thiago Silva
Snapping up Thiago Silva on a free transfer has proved to be a masterstroke by Chelsea, as the Brazilian international continues to impress despite being in the twilight years of his career. The veteran defender was not offered a contract extension by the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy after their impressive 2019-20 campaign and opted to move to Stamford Bridge ahead of a host of top clubs across Europe.
Silva is regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation and is the leader of the Chelsea backline. The 36-year-old reunited with Tuchel earlier this week and is one of the first names on the team sheet for the Blues.
Chelsea offered him a one year contract last year, but the Londoners are likely to offer him an extension and make him a central figure in Tuchel's project at the club.
#1 Mason Mount
Mason Mount has easily been Chelsea's best player this season. The 22-year-old was Frank Lampard's go-to man before his sacking and impressed with his energy, and work rate from midfield.
Mount starts more often than not when fit and is seen as the link between the midfield and the attack. In 29 appearances in all competitions, the Englishman has notched up three goals and six assists, having also captained his boyhood club in Lampard's last game in charge of Chelsea.
Chelsea's squad is stacked with talented players, but Mount is one of the first names on the team sheet and looks set to play a key role for the club for many years to come.
