Ranking Chelsea's Top 5 Players for November
As we head into December, Chelsea's season is showing signs of life.
It's all because of a positive November that saw them win three of their five matches, drawing and losing one apiece.
Indeed, Mourinho's men are on a three-game unbeaten run, but they remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Chelsea are closer to the relegation zone than they to are the top four, although things seem to be heading in the right direction.
Key players are rediscovering a semblance of form, and after three straight clean sheets, the defence is looking more solid than it has been at any stage this term.
Now that November is out, join Bleacher Report as we rank Chelsea's top five performers for the month.
5. Eden Hazard
1 of 5
He was Chelsea's Player of the Season in 2014/15. He was the Premier League's Player of the Season for 2014/15 too.
That has meant little in the present, with Eden Hazard struggling to rediscover his best in a Chelsea shirt.
The Belgian has been in and out of matches much too often, rarely having an impact on proceedings in the way we know he can.
That's affected the attacking threat of Jose Mourinho's side, with little created in front of goal to trouble teams.
But with Chelsea's form picking up in recent weeks, so too has Hazard's. The zip has returned, and he's asking questions in the same way he did last term.
Hazard's back to probing defenders and running at them with desire. He's close to returning to the player we've seen over the past few seasons.
November was a positive month for him, but he remains without a goal all season. To reach the levels we know he can, Hazard must turn this run into something with an end product.
When he does, Chelsea will well and truly be back to their best.
4. Kurt Zouma
2 of 5
The past month has seen Kurt Zouma usurp Gary Cahill in the Chelsea pecking order.
Zouma featured in every game of November, starting in three of those alongside John Terry. Had Terry not suffered injury against Maccabi Tel Aviv, it would have probably been that partnership that started against Tottenham Hotspur on Nov. 29 too.
The Frenchman continues to develop into a fine defender. His tactical awareness has improved significantly, and he's a real presence at the back.
Zouma uses his pace to good effect, yet what's most impressive about him is that we're seeing less and less of those famed last-ditch tackles.
That's because he's being caught out of position on fewer occasions, which says plenty about where finds himself right now.
Cahill has a real fight on his hands to get back in this Chelsea team ahead of Zouma.
3. John Terry
3 of 5
Chelsea have needed their captain this past month, and he's stepped up.
The campaign is far from being salvaged, but November was a month that put Chelsea on the path to achieving something.
Terry has been a big part of that.
It says a lot that Chelsea have kept three clean sheets on the bounce, with Norwich City, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Tottenham Hotspur all failing to score against them.
Terry was missing for the trip to face Spurs at White Hart Lane, although it's everything that led up to that game that instilled confidence in the Chelsea rearguard.
Terry has been influential in getting the defence organised and playing with authority again. They haven't looked as stretched as they have done this season, which has given the team a platform to win matches.
There aren't enough characters like Terry at Chelsea, and the club needs him more than ever.
Right now, he's doing his bit.
2. Asmir Begovic
4 of 5
We know Thibaut Courtois is close to making his comeback from injury.
That's not the news story, though. The focus should be on whether the Belgian justifies an immediate return ahead of Asmir Begovic.
The Bosnian has made 17 consecutive starts in the absence of Courtois, and save for his blunder against Dynamo Kiev on Nov. 4, he hasn't put a foot wrong.
When Chelsea's defence has been all at sea, Begovic has kept them in matches with a string of fine saves.
Indeed, when 10-man Maccabi Tel Aviv threw caution to the wind in Chelsea's recent Champions League tie in Israel, Begovic made two excellent saves to keep the game at 1-0.
From there, the Blues went on to seal a 4-0 win.
The point is, regardless of Courtois' reputation, Begovic hasn't looked out of place in this Chelsea side and deserves recognition for the role he has played this term.
Mourinho has a big decision to make when Courtois is match fit.
1. Willian
5 of 5
Make no bones about it, Willian has been Chelsea's player of the season, let alone their best player in November.
The Brazilian is enjoying a remarkable campaign, defined by his sudden emergence as a dead-ball specialist.
He started November by winning Chelsea a vital three points in the Champions League against Dynamo Kiev and ended it in much similar fashion with yet another free-kick against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
While so many big names have been failing, Willian has stepped up and produced the goods for Chelsea. He's one of the reasons their season is still alive.
Without him, the Kiev win would have been a draw and Chelsea would've been all but out of the Champions League with the way the schedule has fallen.
Instead, Chelsea know a victory against Porto at Stamford Bridge on Dec. 9 will see them top their group and advance with a favourable draw.
Willian's showing himself to be a wonderful talent, and the Blues are fortunate he's discovered his best at a time when they've needed it most.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
