Grading every Chelsea player for their performances over the past season | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca’s first season as Chelsea manager is over, and it has ended on a high note, with the Blues securing Champions League qualification and lifting the UEFA Conference League.

Chelsea had one of the largest squads in the league, especially at the start of the season before some players were loaned out, and Maresca has had to find a balance in giving each player enough game time.

But which players impressed the most, and which need to improve? We’ve graded each player…

Goalkeepers

Robert Sanchez: C+

The Spanish shot-stopper started the season poorly, making regular mistakes, and even had to be dropped for Filip Jorgensen at one point. But in the last few weeks of the campaign he played an important part and restored some pride.

Filip Jorgensen: B-

Jorgensen gets a higher rating than Sanchez because he is only the back-up keeper, and though he still made a few errors, a back-up goalkeeper only has to be good enough in a few games per season, which he was.

Defenders

Marc Cucurella: A

The Spaniard was one of Chelsea’s best players this season. A regular contributor, playing in 48 games this term, his standards rarely dropped and he has established himself as a vital part of this side after a difficult start to life at Chelsea.

Benoit Badiashile: B-

Badiashile only started three Premier League games this season and was very much a bit-part player, but he has not been good enough for the level that Chelsea want to be at.

Trevoh Chalobah: B+

Chalobah had a strange season, starting it on loan at Crystal Palace before being recalled to Chelsea in January. Since then he has barely put a foot wrong and has even received an England call-up.

Reece James: A

The Chelsea captain has had his best season in years. That is largely due to the fact he has been fit for most of it, but he has grown in confidence and put in some very important performances, including in the Conference League final.

Levi Colwill: A

Colwill is a future star, if he is not one already. At 22 he has so much to his game, possessing almost everything needed to be one of the very best central defenders in the world.

Malo Gusto: C

After such a positive season last time out under Mauricio Pochettino, the Frenchman has really struggled this campaign and to adjust to Maresca’s system. He does not look comfortable inverting into midfield, as Maresca wants his full-backs to do.

Wesley Fofana: C

Fofana is much better than this rating gives him credit for, but availability is the best ability. He has proved for a number of years now that he cannot stay fit for a full season, and a player like that is not of much use sadly, however good they are.

Josh Acheampong: B

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign this year, impressing whenever he has been given a chance. So much so that Maresca claimed he has “fallen in love” with his work on the pitch. Much more to come from the Englishman.

Tosin Adarabioyo: B+

Tosin has had a fine campaign, rising to the challenge of being at Chelsea. He is an excellent squad option and with Champions League demands next year he will no doubt play an important role.

Midfielders

Enzo Fernandez: B+

The World-Cup winner has had a successful third season at Chelsea on a personal level. 22 goals and assists combined in all competitions is an impressive return and to cap it with a goal in a final means he is worthy of a strong rating.

Moises Caicedo: A+

Caicedo has been Chelsea’s best player this season. He is living up to his price tag and perhaps the biggest praise you can give him is that no one even mentions it anymore. He has been one of the very best midfielders in the world this year.

Mykhailo Mudryk: C-

It has been a season marred by controversy for the Ukrainian, who is waiting to hear his fate after failing a drugs test and is suspended from playing for the time being. But when he did play, he was not good enough considering his price tag.

Cole Palmer: A-

It has been a strange season for Palmer. In the first half of the campaign, he was one of the best players in the world, and then his performances fell off a cliff. It was not just his numbers that dropped off, he was barely noticeable in many games. But in the Conference League final he showed his class, although he will be hoping for more consistency next term.

Romeo Lavia: B-

Similarly to Fofana, Lavia has world-class potential, but it is no use if he is not on the pitch. He has been fit for about a month now and has been very impressive, and will be hoping he can stay injury-free next season.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: B-

Dewsbury-Hall was a curious signing given he did not appear to be needed but he has done a decent job when asked to step in, especially in the Conference League.

Forwards

Joao Felix: C-

This has to go down as one of the worst signings, if not the worst, of the season. Signed for £45 million in the summer, he was shipped out on loan only five months later. Maresca was not a huge fan, and Felix did not like sitting on the bench. A disaster.

Christopher Nkunku: C-

Another poor signing. Nkunku looks likely to be sold this summer having failed to provide adequate enough back up in attack.

Nicolas Jackson: B-

Jackson has been at the club for two years and is still just 23, but continues to frustrate. He scored nine goals in his first 16 league games but then scored just twice in his next 17 league games. His sending off against Newcastle also damaged trust in him.

Tyrique George: B

George is another who has had a breakthrough campaign and impressed this year. At just 19 he looks a bright spark for the future.

Noni Madueke: B+

Chelsea lack direct threat and pace in their frontline, which Madueke brings. He offers something different to any other forward at the club and has been one of the most improved players this season. He also has a lot of room for further improvement.

Marc Guiu: C

Guiu started the Conference League in fine form, scoring six goals in the group stage, before a hamstring injury ruled him out for the last four months of the season. Like Jackson, he is developing but if Chelsea sign a striker as they are expected to, his role could be reduced.

Pedro Neto: C+

In his first season, Neto has disappointed. Six goals in 45 games is not a good enough return and he has not offered much to the Chelsea attack, despite spending £54m to sign him.

Jadon Sancho: B-

Sancho has had a mixed season, with some strong performances along with some where he was fairly anonymous. His future is very much in the balance currently, with Chelsea needing to decide whether they want to sign him or not. His fee would be between £20-25m.