Picking a Best Chelsea XI Using Only One Player of Each Nationality
It's the sort of headache every manager wants: How does he pick his team without leaving talented players out?
Antonio Conte has been playing that game already at Chelsea this season. We've seen John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and others all left on the bench for long spells. It's been mainly out of necessity, with tactics determining selection.
But what if Conte had to choose his team on nationality alone? What if the Blues boss could only have one player from each country in his side on a matchday?
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The complexion of Chelsea's starting XI would look much different. It would become a battle between Cesar Azpilicueta, Pedro, Fabregas and Diego Costa for the Spanish slot. Then Oscar, Willian and David Luiz for Brazil. Who would he pick for Belgium—Thibaut Courtois or Eden Hazard?
Chelsea have long had one of English football's most cosmopolitan squads, so we thought we would play a similar game by picking an international XI from the club's recent history based on those principles.
Criteria
A few house rules to explain some notable submissions. We're picking only one player per nationality—the FIFA-approved, national-team-representing, one-flag-per-player nationality. There's no bending the rules either by suggesting Marcel Desailly can count as Ghanaian, therefore allowing an extra France international to be included, for instance.
We're also only including players from 1996/97 onwards, making it relevant to both modern-day football and including the era when Chelsea's fortunes changed as a club. It was that season that Ruud Gullit became manager and the Blues went on to win the FA Cup—their first major trophy in 26 years.
Other than that, we've decided to keep things relevant by deploying the current 3-4-3 formation that has been mastered by Conte this season, blending some of Chelsea's recent history to reimagine the present in some form.
When it comes to team selection, bear in mind that Chelsea have been fortunate to have some extremely talented players in their squads in recent years and many of them have come from the same country. So when we think of England, there can be only one from Dennis Wise, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Terry and Joe Cole.
Who will it be? Let's find out.
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech, Czech Republic
While we had to sweat over some players in some positions, Petr Cech was an easy option in goal. Chelsea haven't been blessed with many Czech Republic players in their history, but even if they were, it's difficult to think any of them would've matched Cech's exploits.
The stopper was sensational throughout his 11 seasons as a Chelsea player, breaking every record going. It's of great testament to his abilities that Chelsea fans would always think of Peter Bonetti as the club's iconic goalkeeper, but he's more than surpassed "The Cat" now as the Blues' official No. 1.
He may be donning Arsenal colours these days, yet Chelsea fans look at Cech as one of their own after all he did for the club. From running the gauntlet with his health to saving penalties in a UEFA Champions League final, he did it all.
Defender (Right): Ricardo Carvalho, Portugal
When Chelsea were England's dominant side under Jose Mourinho from 2004-2007, defensively it was Terry who got all the plaudits. As captain, that was to be expected, but without Ricardo Carvalho alongside him, the club captain would never have been as effective as he was.
While Terry did a lot of the dirty work, Carvalho was the man who offered balance. He was a supreme footballer as well as being capable at the back. He would glide effortlessly out of defence with possession and get Chelsea moving forward.
He also had a goal or two in him as well. They weren't simple tap-ins or headers, either; Carvalho was capable of scoring a few special strikes in his time.
In many ways, Chelsea have never really replaced him since he departed in 2010. They've been searching for a ball-playing centre-back, and with Carvalho as the standard in that area, nobody has quite matched him.
Defender (Centre): Marcel Desailly, France
They called him "The Rock" for good reason as nothing got through Marcel Desailly. He was a big, imposing figure at the back wherever he traveled in his career, winning European Cups, league titles and the World Cup with France in 1998.
It was shortly after the latter that he joined Chelsea and helped propel the club further forward than they could ever have imagined. He was statesman-like at the back, a figure of authority who had no place playing for a team with ambitions of cracking into the elite. Desailly was already the elite, which showed how fortunate Chelsea were to get him when they did.
It wasn't just on the pitch where Desailly was effective. Ask Terry, and the Chelsea captain will be full of the wisdom that Desailly imparted on him as he was coming through the ranks.
Desailly would be the captain of this Chelsea International XI, without doubt.
Defender (Left): David Luiz, Brazil
If we're talking 3-4-3, David Luiz's form this season in that system demands he play through the middle. With Desailly around, the Brazilian has to move out wider from that area, however.
Speaking in literal terms, that does take something away from his game. We've seen this season that on the flanks of Chelsea's back three, Luiz isn't as comfortable. But then he does have Desailly alongside him to guide him through matches and keep him disciplined.
For all his detractors, Luiz is a fine footballer. And playing in the system Conte has formulated for Chelsea, he's ideal. He's comfortable bringing the ball out from the back and has the pace and strength to deal with attackers looking to get in behind.
This year has shown him to be more intelligent than we've given him credit for, too. Luiz is reading danger better and that is helping with his overall game management. Just ask Sergio Aguero.
Wing-back (Right): Dan Petrescu, Romania
Dan Petrescu is an odd case. He's still highly regarded in west London, but rarely does he make lists of this sort. There's always another player who is preferred to him; another player who perhaps offered something a little different.
As a wing-back, it's difficult to think of Chelsea having a better player, though. Victor Moses is impressing now, but he has a long way to go to be ranked in the same bracket as Petrescu.
The Romanian wasn't always deployed as such, although Gullit and Gianluca Vialli did use wing-backs at times.
Not only was Petrescu astute defensively, he came with a strong attacking mind and would terrorise defenders. He was a big part of a team that played some the best, free-flowing football Chelsea fans have witnessed in the club's history.
Central Midfield: Frank Lampard, England
We've already mentioned some of the big English names that would be competing in this list. Not only were they all fantastic players, they were equally loved on the terraces for their character and connection with supporters.
As the complete package, none of them top Frank Lampard. He's not just Chelsea's best Englishman; he's Chelsea's finest player. There hasn't been anyone better who was graced the pitch at Stamford Bridge.
That's saying something, given he shared a dressing room with Terry, while Wise and others have done so much for the club.
Lampard is Chelsea's record goalscorer with 211 strikes. He changed perceptions for what we should expect from midfielders in the Premier League, transforming himself into one of England's most-lethal players.
He was an incredible servant for the Blues.
Central Midfield: Michael Essien, Ghana
Our initial reaction was to give this position to Claude Makelele. After all, it was the French midfielder who paved the way for the likes of Michael Essien to become so highly valued.
With his compatriot Desailly captaining our Chelsea International XI, however, Essien gets the nod. In terms of replacements, he's not that bad, is he?
Indeed, it shows the strength of Chelsea this past decade that with either Makelele or Essien, this team wouldn't be weaker. They were both exceptional for the club, with Essien's physicality and endeavour in midfield so often proving a driving force for Chelsea.
Where he bettered Makelele was in his goal threat. Essien got forward much more to influence games in the opposition half, and he had the odd golazo in his locker as Arsenal found to their cost.
Wing-back (Left): Damien Duff, Republic of Ireland
We're playing Damien Duff slightly out of position here—we're attempting to do with him what Conte has done with Moses this season.
As Moses has proved with his application, we're confident Duff would be just as successful as the left wing-back in this side. Not only was he quick and skillful, the Irishman was a real team player. He came without an ego, a player who built his reputation on his endeavour.
It was only when he earned the right that Duff would start to look flash, but even then he did it with a purpose. He was direct and gave defenders nightmares.
Having him on the left side here would offer the balance we're looking for.
Striker (Right): Gianfranco Zola, Italy
Roberto Di Matteo will be feeling aggrieved that he hasn't edged Gianfranco Zola out as the Italian in our International XI after all he has done for Chelsea. Not only did he win the Blues the FA Cup twice and also the League Cup in 1998, Di Matteo was manager when Chelsea lifted the Champions League in 2012.
We're not picking this team on sentiment, though. The idea is to create a side that would win football matches and that's what Zola would help us do. As players, there's no comparison between him and Di Matteo.
Zola has to rank as one of the most pivotal signings Chelsea have made in any era. He was struggling at Parma in 1996 when Gullit brought him to west London, and the Italian changed the complexion of Chelsea's team.
Gullit had been building something since that summer and Zola was the missing piece. For all the talent in the side, they needed that spark and the Italy international provided it. He was magical, operating as a hybrid frontman—some would say an early version of the false nine that has become prominent in more recent times.
Without Zola, there's every chance Chelsea wouldn't have achieved all they did pre-Roman Abramovich.
Striker (Centre): Diego Costa, Spain
"What do you mean Didier Drogba doesn't make it into this team?" we hear you cry.
We agree, it seems like sacrilege not to feature him, but the decision comes with good reason. We're not going to dodge the bullet by rolling out a cliched response, that there's only room for one central striker. It's simple: Diego Costa is a better player than Drogba was.
Look at the stats for one. Costa has scored more goals in his first three seasons than Drogba did for Chelsea, he's more effective with the ball at his feet and he works the channels better.
Where Drogba had an advantage is that he knew how to muscle out defenders more efficiently. On physicality alone, the Ivorian would win those personal battles. He used his body with extreme intelligence to get himself into positions where he could score goals.
Costa's beginning to develop that side of his game, as we saw against Manchester City in the recent 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Drogba's status as a club legend rightly outweighs Costa's right now, but when their respective careers have ended and are compared in hindsight, we're confident history will show where the Spain international edged the debate.
Striker (Left): Eden Hazard, Belgium
If Eden Hazard remains at Chelsea in the long term, there's no doubt he will rank as one of the club's finest players. He doesn't quite hit the top of the list just yet, but his form this season is reminding us of why he should.
He's so effective when cutting inside from his position on the left, using his hips for a burst of pace to blast beyond defenders and expose them. He's developing a more ruthless streak in front of goal, too, which is making him a bigger threat.
We considered others such as Arjen Robben for this position, but Hazard's ability to adapt and play wide as well as centrally is what sets him apart. He's a modern footballer who has no issue interchanging with his team-mates, reading the game to spot danger and acting upon it.
With Hazard, Costa and Zola—not to mention Lampard arriving late from midfield—this team would have goals and plenty of them.
Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes
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