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The worst Chelsea XI Mourinho could field next season

Chelsea fans in the Football Transfer Tavern are absolutely loving it, they’ve not stopped partying since they won the Premier League trophy!

Mourinho’s men have been by far and away the best team in the country this term, and have won the title with plenty to spare.

They even had the joy of being given a guard of honour by Liverpool as they walked out on Sunday!

No doubt Mourinho will have cast one eye on next season, with Chelsea hoping to claim back-to-back titles, and mount a better challenge for the Champions League.

But in the event of an injury crisis, or some dreadful transfer business, we have identified the worst possible side Mourinho could field next term.
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Click on Jose Mourinho to reveal the worst Chelsea XI Mourinho could field next season

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Brad Friedel

Brad Friedel

With Petr Cech set to leave the club in search of first team football in the summer, Chelsea are on the hunt for a new number two goalkeeper.

Reports have linked them to Tottenham’s Brad Friedel, and whilst the American has been an outstanding goalkeeper in the Premier League down the years, he will be 44 years of age when the new season kicks off, having not played for more than 12 months at the top level – doesn’t sound entirely convincing does it?

Tomas Kalas

Tomas Kalas

The young centre back has only managed one league appearance for the Blues, although it was memorable. He was outstanding as Chelsea ended Liverpool’s title challenge with a 2-0 title win at Anfield just over a year ago, but has not featured since.

He has been deployed at right back on occasions, but looks far more comfortable in the centre. However he is currently fighting for his Chelsea future, after an unsuccessful loan spell with Koln of the Bundesliga this season.

Nathan Ake

Nathan Ake

The young Dutchman has been on the books at Stamford Bridge for a while now, yet bar a brief spell in the first team under Rafael Benitez, he is yet to be given much of a run in the Chelsea first team.

The Blues have the best defence in the country at present, with John Terry and Gary Cahill dominant at present.

Any thing other than those two next season would be considered a step down.

Andreas Christensen

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Chelsea have high hopes for the young Danish defender, but again, anything other than Terry and Cahill next season would be seen as a major step down for the newly crowned Champions.

Christensen joined the club during the 2012-13 season from Brondby, but is yet to make an impact on the first team.

His last appearance came during the horror show at home to Bradford in the FA Cup in January, when Chelsea suffered a humiliating 4-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Filipe Luis

Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers - Capital One Cup Third Round

The Brazilian only signed last summer from Atletico Madrid, but he has made little impact at Stamford Bridge.

Such is the form of Cesar Azpilicueta in that left back role, Luis has struggled for any sort of regular playing time.

He has been linked with a return to Spain in the summer, and such is Azpilicueta’s popularity with the Chelsea fans, his departure would not be mourned for too long.

John Obi Mikel

John Obi Mikel

He still holds cult hero status amongst Chelsea supporters, but the summer may finally be the time for Mourinho to land an upgrade.

Mikel has hardly featured this season – other than from the bench – and Mourinho is understood to hold a serious interest in Paul Pogba.

If Mikel is starting in the Chelsea midfield next season, there will either be an injury crisis, or some serious short-comings in the transfer market.

Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma

The young Frenchman has won over the Chelsea fans already, despite having only moved to the club last summer.

But it is clear Zouma’s best position is at centre back, rather than the centre of midfield – a position Mourinho has deployed him in important matches.

Zouma hasn’t let anyone down when called upon, but his future lies in defence due to his lack of creativity going forward.

Mohamed Salah

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The Egyptian looked as though he was a player simply not suited to the Premier League.

He lasted just 12 months at Stamford Bridge before being sent to Fiorentina on loan, where he has suddenly rediscovered the form that saw him labelled the ‘Egyptian Messi.’

Chelsea would be naive to call him back however, as it is clear the Blues have players of far greater talent already competing for a spot in the wide areas next season.

Juan Cuadrado

Cuadrado

The man Chelsea signed as a replacement for Salah has actually done a worse job.

At least Salah popped up with a couple of goals after signing in January, Colombia international Cuadrado has actually contributed nothing.

Chelsea fans are hoping he comes good next season, but the early signs have not been encouraging.

Rickie Lambert

Rickie Lambert

One of the most bizarre transfer rumours to emerge in recent times has seen Rickie Lambert linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

With Didier Drogba likely to hang up his boots at the end of the season, Mourinho is on the lookout for a new target man, and is said to have sent scouts to watch Lambert in action.
He needn’t have bothered, with the stat that shows Lambert has managed three goals in 33 appearances (11 starts) this season, telling everyone all they need to know.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Offload Emmanuel Adebayor

As well as Lambert, Chelsea have been linked with a move for out of favour Tottenham forward Emmanuel Adebayor.

Mourinho might well be the man to finally bring the best out of the former Manchester City and Arsenal forward on a consistent basis, but his attitude down the years at each club he has been at says this is a signing the Blues should steer well clear of.

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