Chelsea is in a fantastic position right now. They won the Champions League last season and have built on that success this season under Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea currently lead the Premier League and are considered one of the favorites to win the league this season. They have quality at every position, which means that some players have not had many opportunities to prove their worth.
Tuchel has a welcome headache with quality in every position. However, not all players will be pleased with his decisions. On that note, here are the five Chelsea players who deserve more opportunities.
Number 5: Saul Niguez
In recent years, Saul Niguez‘s career has stalled. From being a young superstar at Atletico Madrid to now warming the bench at Chelsea, he has come a long way.
He had only a minor impact for the La Liga giants as they won the league title last season. The Spain international joined Chelsea on loan this summer, much to the delight of the club’s fans. His technical abilities and defensive capabilities made him an ideal addition to Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
He has, however, struggled at Chelsea. A poor debut against Aston Villa did not help his cause, and he has struggled to unseat stars such as Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, and Mateo Kovacic from the starting XI.
The 26-year-old has only played two Premier League games for a total of 48 minutes. The sample size is too small to make a decision at this time, but it appears unlikely that Chelsea will extend his contract.
Number 4: Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was once regarded as Chelsea’s midfielder of the future. However, injuries have hampered his development.
Loftus-Cheek, a product of Chelsea’s renowned youth academy, demonstrated his talent during a loan spell with Crystal Palace. Since then, he has put in some good performances for Chelsea, but consistent injury issues have been a major issue. Loftus-Cheek has now been surpassed at the club by bigger names.
This season, the England international has looked sharp and performed admirably when called upon. He has made two Premier League starts, indicating that manager Tuchel believes in him. The 25-year-old has the potential to become a regular in Chelsea’s midfield.
Number 3: Hakim Ziyech
When Hakim Ziyech signed for Chelsea from Ajax in 2020 for £36 million, there was a lot riding on him.
Ziyech was a sensation for Ajax as a highly creative forward. The Moroccan international was expected to become Chelsea’s main creator, but he has not played regularly since joining the club. Tuchel has preferred other players, and Ziyech has also suffered from injury.
The 28-year-old has only made two Premier League starts this season and has yet to score in the league. This summer, Ziyech was linked with a move away, with AC Milan and Lyon mentioned as possible destinations. A move to a less physical league could be beneficial to him.
Number 2: Timo Werner
Timo Werner‘s struggles in front of goal were extensively covered last season. Despite this, he contributed 14 goals in the league.
However, the arrival of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan this summer for a club-record fee of £103.5 million has pushed Werner down the pecking order. Last summer, Chelsea paid nearly £48 million for the Germany international.
His first season in England elicited opposing reactions from fans and critics alike. While Werner was instrumental in making Chelsea’s attack work, his wastefulness and poor finishing irritated fans.
The 25-year-old has made four Premier League starts this season, scoring one goal and assisting on another. Werner is unlikely to be satisfied with his current situation, and it would not be surprising to see him looking for a new club soon, especially with the FIFA World Cup coming up next year.
Number 1: Callum Hudson-Odoi
Callum Hudson-Odoi clearly deserves to start every game for a top club like Chelsea, but he remains a member of the club’s squad.
Hudson-Odoi, another Chelsea youth academy product, made headlines when Bayern Munich made a serious bid to sign him in 2019. Chelsea, on the other hand, turned down Bayern’s offer, and Hudson-Odoi subsequently signed a new contract with the club.
The England international is a creative, technically gifted winger who has proven his worth when called upon.
Tuchel tried to play Hudson-Odoi as a wing-back, but it is clear that his talent is best used further forward. This season, the 20-year-old has made four Premier League appearances and scored one goal. This summer, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were linked with him.