One 9/10, two 8s, three 4s – Chelsea player ratings of the season so far

It has been another transitional season for Chelsea, with a mass number of players bedding in at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues, who are one game away from reaching their second domestic final of the season, have underwhelmed for the majority of the term, but have shown glimpses of progression under the under-fire Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine is looking for his players to kick on in the final 12 games of the season – and that could be 13 matches if Chelsea beat Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final next month.

With the final international break of the season now reaching its conclusion, there is perhaps no better time to take a look at how the majority of the Chelsea squad have fared in this strange campaign. Bobby Vincent has rated the players out of 10 with an explanation behind his score.

Disclaimer: Those who have played less than 300 minutes in all competitions have not been rated, including Carney Chukwuemeka, Alfie Gilchrist, Deivid Washington etc.

Robert Sanchez – 6

Minutes played: 2,101

Personally, I don’t think Sanchez did too much wrong in his early days for Chelsea. His distribution, at times, was concerning, and ultimately I think that was one of the reasons he has been replaced as No.1 but it certainly has not been a disastrous start to life at Stamford Bridge.

READ MORE: Liverpool star sends Noni Madueke clear message as Mykhailo Mudryk makes big Chelsea statement

READ MORE: FA Cup triumph, Osimhen alternative, Silva replacement – Chelsea’s dream end to 2023/24 season

Djordje Petrovic – 7

Minutes played: 1,825

Really, really impressive thus far. When he came into the team for the injured Sanchez, I was a bit concerned that it was perhaps too early for him to take on the pressure of being the Chelsea goalkeeper. But the Serbian has excelled and is now the undisputed No.1 shot-stopper at the club.

Benoit Badiashile – 5

Minutes played: 990

A really underwhelming first full season at Chelsea for Badiashile. The 23-year-old centre-back has bags of potential but has not been able to get a run in the side because of multiple injury problems this season. When he has played, he has sometimes looked very shaky at the back.

Levi Colwill – 6

Minutes played: 2,684

A strange-ish season for Colwill. So much was expected of him after a sensational loan spell at Brighton last term, but he perhaps has not lived up to the hype just yet. To be fair to him, he has been played mostly as a left-back, which you can tell is not his natural position. There is still so much more to come from the England international.

Axel Disasi – 6

Minutes played: 3,683

More minutes than anyone else in the Chelsea squad this season which tells you all you need to know about how reliable and durable he is. However, he has made numerous mistakes this term which brings his rating down a bit. I think Chelsea have found a good one in Disasi, though.

Trevoh Chalobah – 6

Minutes played: 426

Chalobah has featured in the last six games for Chelsea after missing the entirety of the campaign before that because of an injury he picked up last summer. There are still question marks over his long-term future with the club but all he can do is continue to impress like he has been doing since fit.

Thiago Silva – 5.5

Minutes played: 2,727

I felt as if a 6/10 was too high and a 5/10 was too low. Silva has not been himself this season when compared to his sky-high standards. At 39-years-old, that is to be expected. Silva has not been in the side for the last six games, albeit he was injured for three of them, but that may well be a sign of the times for the Brazilian veteran.

Ben Chilwell – 5

Minutes played: 1,272

Another injury-ridden campaign for Chilwell but he has managed to rack up over 1,000 minutes in all competitions. The England international, though, has not been great on the left-hand side of defence. Question marks are lingering; he has not been able to offer the attacking threat we know he is capable of, and equally he has been caught out defensively at times.

Marc Cucurella – 6

Minutes played: 1,265

Cucurella, like Chilwell, has seen his campaign disrupted by injuries. The Spaniard was missing for 17 games between December and March after having surgery on his ankle. The 25-year-old has looked a lot better this season, though, when fit and available.

Reece James – 4

Minutes played: 498

A 4/10 might seem harsh and it is to no fault of his own. But yet again James has barely featured this season. It’s another one of those campaigns that the Chelsea captain will be desperate to put behind him. I just really hope the surgery he had towards the end of last year can benefit him in the long run.

Malo Gusto – 8

Minutes played: 2,201

Fortunately for Chelsea, they have not missed James too much this season and that is down to the form of Gusto. The French right-back, signed from Lyon last year, has been exceptional in James’ absence. At just 20-years-old, Gusto has everything: speed, technical ability, defensive awareness, a brilliant cross. He is one of the brightest talents in European football.

Moises Caicedo – 6.5

Minutes played: 3,536

Such expectation and pressure was put on Caicedo’s shoulders after a British record £115million move to Chelsea last summer. It took the Ecuadorian a while to settle in his new surroundings but he is looking better and more accomplished with every passing game. You still feel as if there is so much to come from Caicedo.

Enzo Fernandez – 6.5

Minutes played: 2,923

I’m giving his midfield partner Enzo the same score. Similarly, there is still so much more to come. But what we have seen from the Argentina World Cup winner this season has been quite surprising. We all knew he could dictate a game from deep but Enzo, this term, has shown his ability and end product in the final third, with seven goals and two assists to his name in all competitions.

Lesley Ugochukwu – 4

Minutes played: 619

It feels like absolutely ages since we last saw Ugochukwu on the pitch. It was Chelsea’s Christmas Eve defeat away at Wolverhampton Wanderers. There were some promising signs from the defensive midfielder when on the pitch but Chelsea supporters definitely need to see more of him before making a proper judgement.

Conor Gallagher – 6.5

Minutes played: 3,318

Gallagher has done really well at times this season but that has not been the case for the entirety of the campaign thus far. The England international sometimes frustrates in matches and leaves Blues supporters confused as to what he offers. He has, though, popped up with some really crucial goals for Chelsea this season to earn the Blues some much-needed points.

Cole Palmer – 9

Minutes played: 2,895

About as good as it gets. The signing of the season? It’s hard to argue otherwise at this point. Palmer has recorded 25 direct goal contributions this season – with 13 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for the Blues – in what has been a remarkable debut campaign for the England international. Right now, Chelsea’s most important player. No doubt about it.

Mykhailo Mudryk – 6

Minutes played: 1,509

In terms of his goal scoring return, it has not been a disastrous campaign for Mudryk. The Ukrainian has scored six goals and provided two assists this season for Chelsea. However, in his first full season with the club, he has not played anywhere near the amount he would have envisaged. In fact, Mudryk is yet to start in the Premier League in 2024.

Noni Madueke – 6

Minutes played: 911

Madueke has had some purple patches this season but ultimately has not been consistent enough. Over the Christmas and New Year period, Madueke was one of Chelsea’s most dangerous attacking players. Sometimes, though, you can forget the 22-year-old winger is playing. Hopefully there is still so much more to come because his talent is frightening.

Christopher Nkunku – 4

Minutes played: 351

A really disappointing campaign for Nkunku, but again to no fault of his own. Injuries have completely shafted him this term and he has not been able to put a run of games together. Even when he has played, there were question marks as to whether the France international was fully fit or not.

Raheem Sterling – 5.5

Minutes played: 2,832

Some Chelsea supporters will see a 5.5/10 and believe that is far too high for Sterling. But the bottom line is, the winger has still managed to score eight goals and provide seven assists this season. Granted, he has been really disappointing at times which brings his score down massively. At the time of writing, he absolutely needs to be dropped for the Burnley game this weekend.

Nicolas Jackson – 8

Minutes played: 2,691

When all things are considered and analysed, this has been a highly impressive debut season in the Premier League for Jackson. The Senegal international, despite missing the joint-fourth most ‘big chances’ in the division this season, has still scored nine goals in the top-flight. Jackson has netted 11 in all competitions. There is such potential there but he is still a raw talent.