Ranking Chelsea's Top 5 Players for October
October was another tough month for Premier League champions Chelsea.
It started in defeat to Southampton and ended the same way against Stoke City as Jose Mourinho's side crashed out of the Capital One Cup.
Chelsea won just once in the entire month when they defeated Aston Villa 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
While the results haven't been forthcoming for Chelsea, there have been some positives.
There were the back-to-back clean sheets against Villa and Dynamo Kiev that hinted at a return to form, while some of Mourinho's players have impressed at times.
We've seen defenders battle at the back and midfielders give teams the sort of headaches Chelsea have grown used to experiencing themselves.
That hasn't been enough to turn the season around, yet in these desperate times, Chelsea need all the positives they can.
Join Bleacher Report as we count down Chelsea's top five players for October.
5. Ramires
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The Brazilian has stepped up his performances of late, and despite Chelsea's continued problems in October, he had some promising displays.
Ramires is proving a versatile member of Jose Mourinho's squad. Given the lack of depth in some key areas, that's proven especially valuable.
The 28-year-old has operated in attacking midfield and in the pivot, but it's the latter where he has had his best performances.
Against Aston Villa and Dynamo Kiev, when Chelsea kept back-to-back clean sheets, Ramires was excellent. He may not have got the acknowledgment by way of any personal awards, but Mourinho and his team-mates will value the shift he has put in.
Had he not been forced out wide to an acute angle against Stoke City in midweek, we may well be talking about Ramires' goal threat in October, too. Instead, on that occasion, his first-half effort hit the side-netting.
Needless to say, October was an encouraging month for Ramires.
4. Gary Cahill
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Fingers were pointing at Gary Cahill for the part he played when Jonathan Walters opened the scoring for Stoke City in Chelsea's Capital One Cup outing this week.
That was a rare moment when Cahill has been at fault in October, though.
The Englishman has shown just why Jose Mourinho has opted to reinstate him to the defence in recent weeks.
The 29-year-old hasn't played every Chelsea game, yet he has been a big figure.
And that's what the Premier League champions need right now. Mourinho needs players he can trust to play with character, to ride the storm as best they can given all that is happening at Stamford Bridge.
When Chelsea were down to 10 men against West Ham United, it was Cahill's goal that restored parity at Upton Park and gave his team-mates a platform to get something from the game.
Chelsea still lost, but that shouldn't be a negative against Cahill. He battles for everything and continues to prove himself as a fine defender.
3. Cesar Azpilicueta
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Cesar Azpilicueta is probably Chelsea's most consistent player.
That doesn't mean he's the best or most superior figure in the dressing room, though. What it reflects is that he can be counted on every week.
The Spaniard continues to play out of position at left-back, but you wouldn't know it. He rarely puts a foot wrong and gives Chelsea so much defensively.
Azpilicueta could have had a hard time when he was up against Andriy Yarmolenko recently in the Champions League, yet he snuffed out the Dynamo Kiev winger's threat. That was vital in the game ending 0-0.
That's been the story for much of his Chelsea career. The 26-year-old is consistently good.
Chelsea are struggling this term, but Azpilicueta is one of the few who can claim his form from last season hasn't dipped as drastically as some.
2. Asmir Begovic
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It's been a baptism of fire for Asmir Begovic.
When he joined Chelsea, the Serbian goalkeeper could hardly have predicted the club's current predicament.
Few would have predicted that he would enjoy so much playing time, either.
With Thibaut Courtois a long-term absentee through injury, Begovic has stepped up and shown what a fine goalkeeper he is.
There have been times when he's been isolated and conceded goals as a result, but on the whole, he has impressed.
Indeed, the 28-year-old has kept Chelsea in matches at times.
October was another strong month from Begovic, and if his form continues like it is, it may not be as simple as a fit Courtois instantly being restored.
1. Willian
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Out of nowhere, Willian has become a dead-ball specialist for Chelsea.
That's only resulted in him scoring once in October—against Southampton—but it seems to have bred a new-found confidence in the Brazilian.
Willian has been far and away Chelsea's best performer this past month.
He's the creative source in midfield, causing problems for opposition defences as he attempts to make things happen.
The 27-year-old has been driving Chelsea forward at every opportunity, outshining the likes of Eden Hazard. There's been a real sense of adventure around his play.
If a few more of his team-mates had been playing to Willian's level, we'd be talking about a far more positive October for Chelsea.
