The short Christmas break offers the chance to look at the Blues in 2025 — a year when Chelsea became World Champions.
You don’t achieve something like that without serious quality.
Imagine what a player who had the best attributes from all the players Enzo Maresca has to choose from.
That’s the mission for this exercise, taking six attributes to create an absolute monster of a footballer. A player can only be selected once, and injuries are being ignored because why not? It’s Christmas.
Chelsea’s perfect player
Pace
The first category is one that required little consideration. Pedro Neto is startlingly quick.
The winger has taken his game to new heights this season, already matching his best Premier League goal tally with just under half of the games played.
Pedro Neto celebrates Chelsea goal
Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images
While that development is refreshing, his speed has always been elite. Maresca started Neto as striker against Barcelona, using his blistering pace to counter Hansi Flick’s high line. It worked to great effect.
Passing
We haven’t seen much of Cole Palmer this season, but every Chelsea fan knows just how good he is when fit.
The Blues aren’t necessarily stacked with passing talent, with the midfield more designed to dominate physically. Palmer, though, has it all. He was in contention for a couple of categories, but no one in the squad has the same creative capabilities as the Englishman.
In the past two seasons, he has 19 league assists to go along with 37 goals. His ability to split defences with incisive, weighted passes is of the highest quality around.
Maresca is delighted to have his star back 🙌
How much does Cole Palmer's return raise Chelsea's ceiling this season?
Cole Palmer and Enzo Maresca
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
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Defending
Since we’re leaving health to one side, we can pick a player who has been ruled out for the season, but whose quality is undeniable.
Levi Colwill’s season-ending ACL injury has posed many problems for Maresca. He has grown into that starting role at the heart of the defence, and while his work in possession is brilliant as well, it’s his defending talents that earn him a selection here.
Can’t wait to have him back.
Physical
This was one of the trickier picks. Chelsea have plenty of players in top physical condition, and their biggest wins often stem from dominating that aspect of the game.
As Chelsea’s best player this season, Moises Caicedo had to get a nod somewhere in this player build. His incredible engine, deceptive strength and simply dominant presence in the middle of the park all work in his favour.
What does Moises Caicedo need to do to enter the Kante conversation?
Or is it a bridge too far?
N'Golo Kante with PL trophy for Chelsea
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Dribbling
There’s plenty of wide talent on the books at Stamford Bridge, but none excite with the ball at their feet quite like Estevao Willian.
The Brazilian is skillful and direct, and he dominates in dribbling stats since joining Chelsea this season. He is attempting twice as many take-ons per 90 than any other Blue and is an easy choice for the best dribbler — and he’s only getting started.
Chelsea captain Reece James with Estevao Willian
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Shooting
There’s one player missing from this list who could make an argument for most attributes. Chelsea captain Reece James is who we’re picking for shooting.
He might not be the most frequent or the most efficient shooter, but his technique is world-class. James’ free-kick against Newcastle was just another example of how well he can strike a ball.
The right-back/midfielder has the largest average shot distance in the side, with most coming from well outside the box. There are more prolific goal scorers at Chelsea, but you’d have to imagine James could do plenty of damage if he was deployed further up the pitch.
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