Ranking Chelsea's Top 5 Players for September
September ended the way it started for Chelsea—in defeat.
After a poor start to the season in August, we thought things would pick up for the Premier League champions as they looked to turn things around, but they haven't.
The Blues still linger in the lower half of the table and are also third in their Champions League group.
After losing 3-1 to Everton on the back of the international break, three wins on the bounce against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Arsenal and Walsall, hinted that the old Chelsea was returning.
Jose Mourinho's men still weren't performing to the high standards they set in 2014/15, but conceding just one goal in those three games was still a positive sign.
Then came the disastrous performance against Newcastle United that ended in a 2-2 draw—Mourinho labelling their first-half display "a minus-one out of 10," per BBC Sport—before this week's loss away to Porto in the Champions League.
We're well into the new campaign now, yet Chelsea's problems are still lingering.
For all the negatives, though, there have been some encouraging performances at times from Chelsea's talented crop of players.
In September we saw a back-up goalkeeper come to their rescue after Thibaut Courtois' long-term injury, while two young stars have shown the future is encouraging for the west Londoners.
Join Bleacher Report as we rank Chelsea's top five players from the previous month of action.
5. Ruben Loftus-Cheek
1 of 5
Chelsea's 19-year-old only made two appearances in September, but he makes our list due to the impact he made in those games.
Indeed, so impressive was Loftus-Cheek against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Walsall, there's a case to suggest he would make the top five for September even if Chelsea were firing on all cylinders.
There's so much attention on the Chelsea academy right now, with the ever-increasing desire for another player to emerge as a first-team regular.
That pressure rests solely on Loftus-Cheek's shoulders for now, and he isn't wilting, either.
If anything, he is embracing it and is flourishing as a result.
Loftus-Cheek was a dominant force against Tel Aviv—he was named UEFA's man of the match in that game—while he also picked up an assist for Kenedy in the Capital One Cup against Walsall.
He is growing in stature with every performance, and if the poor performances continue at Stamford Bridge, it wouldn't be a surprise if he were to be given a chance over his more senior teammates.
4. Willian
2 of 5
Suddenly Chelsea have a free-kick specialist on their hands.
Willian's starting place has been under threat since the arrival of Pedro this season, and he's had to adapt as a result.
The Brazilian has played more centrally at times, while an injury suffered in September also saw him restricted to the bench.
In fact, we saw his best performance when he came on as a substitute against Newcastle United.
Willian helped rescue a point for Chelsea at St. James' Park, pulling them back from 2-0 down to draw the match 2-2.
He gave more impetus in attack, while his free-kick produced the equaliser.
Willian followed that up with a splendid dead-ball effort against Porto this week—his second free-kick in as many Champions League matches after his goal against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
3. Oscar
3 of 5
Despite the criticism that comes his way, when he's on form, Oscar is an exceptional talent.
Indeed, it's knowing what he can achieve when at his best that frustrates so much about Oscar when he is off colour.
Returning from injury this month, the Brazilian reminded us of his talents.
With Oscar back in the No. 10 role, Chelsea seemed to have more energy and pressed their opponents better and more efficiently, which gave them big wins against Maccabi Tel Aviv and Arsenal.
It was no accident that in the two big games he didn't feature—against Everton and Porto—Chelsea lost.
Oscar is like Chelsea's pace-setter; he gets things moving in midfield, and his application brings out the best in those around him.
Jose Mourinho needs him to remain fit and on form as, without Oscar in the line-up, Chelsea miss the edge that he brings.
2. Kurt Zouma
4 of 5
When you're keeping John Terry out of the Chelsea team, you have to be a bit special. And Kurt Zouma is.
Save for his error that led to Newcastle United's opener in Chelsea's recent 2-2 draw, the Frenchman has hardly put a foot wrong in the past month.
Chelsea's defensive frailties have been all too clear, as they've conceded 17 goals in just 10 games, but Zouma can hold his head up high. He's been vital in ensuring that figure hasn't been higher.
His pace has been a big part of covering the gaping holes the out-of-form Branislav Ivanovic has left at the back, while he has played with maturity beyond his years.
As the season progresses, we can expect his game time to be reduced, as is the case with plenty of young players, but right now Zouma is up there as being one of Chelsea's best out-field players.
1. Asmir Begovic
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It's to Begovic's credit that Thibaut Courtois' knee injury has gone largely unnoticed this month.
Any club losing their No. 1 will be cautious of his replacement, but as we saw in his time at Stoke City, Begovic is a goalkeeper of world-class ability.
Just take his display against Porto in the Champions League when, without his heroics, the scoreline would have been worse than the eventual 2-1.
When Chelsea's defence was all at sea, Begovic kept the Blues in the game, making save after save.
He's done that in every game he has played, too.
Big questions were asked of Begovic in September, and every time he answered them with aplomb. Without him, Courtois' injury would have been a far bigger problem for Jose Mourinho than what it has turned out to be.
And long may that continue.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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