With 2022 nearly over, it’s time to pick out the Chelsea player of the year.
It’s been a turbulent calendar year for the Blues, losing both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals on penalties to rivals Liverpool.
There’s been a change of management at Stamford Bridge as well, with Graham Potter replacing fan favourite Thomas Tuchel back in September.
It’s been a bit of a mixed bag across the board from this Blues squad. Some have shone brightly at various points, but it’s obvious by the team’s current positioning of eighth in the Premier League table that there’s plenty to improve on.
However, we’ve selected the outstanding candidate for Chelsea’s best-performing individual of 2022.
Chelsea player of the year
In our view, Thiago Silva is the pick of the bunch in Chelsea colours this season.
Now 38, the veteran defender continues to set the standards on and off the pitch around the club.
He’s one of the few players in this squad you can bank on to play most games, featuring in 28 of Chelsea’s 32 Premier League matches during the calendar year so far.
There’s teammates in the squad that have dazzled in patches. For example, 23-year-old attacking midfielder Mason Mount has been integral in certain moments, especially towards the back end of last season.
Also, Reece James is only kept out of this conversation due to his poor luck with injuries this year. When fit, the full-back is the player the side look to for inspiration.
Silva is the definition of consistent
Silva’s greatest strength has to be to constantly churn out 7/10 or 8/10 performances every single game.
Chelsea have clearly lost their defensive steel in 2022, which played a role in Tuchel’s departure.
Silva has still been the glue at the heart of defence trying to keep everything together, though.
The Brazilian centre-half has to keep playing as long as he feels right in his own body, albeit perhaps Potter should proceed with caution in these immediate games post-World Cup. After all, he’s just finished captaining Brazil out in Qatar.
Described as “remarkable” by Martin Keown for his World Cup performances, Silva does go against the grain by delivering such top-class displays with such regularity.
It’ll be another privilege if Chelsea get to see him boss things again in 2023.
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