Football.London attempts to grade Chelsea players based on their performance so far this season.
Chelsea has had a very up-and-down season under Xabi Alonso in his first season.
Of course, it's still early in the season, but Alonso had a rocky start to his debut Premier League season. In the first 10 Premier League games, he secured 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
Alonso has gotten a lot out of some of the first-team regulars, but there are also players who have struggled under the Spanish coach so far. With the second international break of the season approaching, now is a good time to review everyone's performance to date.
Football.London reporter Bobby Vincent rates Chelsea players based on their performance so far this season as follows:
E. Martinez – After joining from Aston Villa in August, Martinez did not have a perfect start at Stamford Bridge. Before his injury, he had some shaky moments, but also some brilliant performances. There is more to expect. 6
Mike Penders – The young Belgian goalkeeper had a terrible start, scoring an own goal on his Premier League debut. However, his response afterward was excellent and commendable. 6
Maxence Lacroix – The French international certainly showed potential, but he still made too many mistakes in his game. Lacroix will now be out for a long time, possibly not returning until 2027, but he still has a lot to offer. 6
Colwill – To be frank, Colwill had a very poor start to the season. It seemed worse because everyone knows how good this 23-year-old player is. It seems that the left-sided center-back position when Chelsea has possession does not suit Colwill. 4
Wesley Fofana – The situation is similar for Fofana. The Frenchman has not featured much under Alonso so far, but whenever he did play, the former Leicester City defender's performance was not ideal. It now feels like Fofana is fighting for his Chelsea career, but the current situation is not optimistic. 4
Josh Acheampong – This 20-year-old was promised more first-team minutes this season, and Chelsea has clearly delivered on that promise, especially in recent weeks. Acheampong is improving rapidly, and his potential is frightening. 8
Jorrel Hato – After an excellent second half of last season, Hato has had a disappointing start to this season. The 20-year-old is currently suffering from a back injury, and hopefully, he can return soon and make amends. 5
Pep Chavarría – The Spanish left-back has quietly delivered some eye-catching performances. The system Alonso employs seems to suit the dynamic Chavarría very well. 7
Reece James – The captain's season has not truly kicked off yet. James has been out with a knee injury after 4 Premier League appearances and will be sidelined for a long time. 5
Marco Palestra – Similarly, Palestra's season, and even his Chelsea career, has not truly begun yet. The Italian joined in the summer for £47 million and only made his debut on October 10. There is still much to expect in the future, and Chelsea has high hopes for Palestra. 5
Gusto – The Frenchman has barely played under Alonso. Even when he did play, he didn't truly impress. Gusto might leave in January. 4
Caicedo – Caicedo had a very difficult start to the season. Everyone knows how good this 25-year-old is, but he hasn't been able to show it yet. Injuries played a significant role in this. 5
Lavia – In contrast, Lavia has performed well when given opportunities in Chelsea's midfield. At least most of the time. The performance against Manchester United last month is the kind of display Lavia should be producing every week. 7
Valentín Barco – Giving him such a low score seems a bit harsh, but again, Barco has only played over 100 minutes in the Premier League. The 22-year-old needs more playing time. 4
Henderson – Many Chelsea fans have been pleasantly surprised by the performance of this 36-year-old player. After being affected by injuries in his first month at Stamford Bridge, Henderson has since been one of the most consistent players in midfield. 6
Cole Palmer – Palmer's performances have been inconsistent. At times, he shows glimpses of his familiar self; but in other matches, he seems like an invisible man on the field. 6
Morgan Rogers – Spoiler alert, Rogers got the highest score in this article. To be honest, you probably could have guessed. The £117 million signing has been a pleasant surprise since joining the Blues, and it feels like he has an even higher ceiling. 9
Estêvão – The Brazilian only started once in the Premier League under Alonso and performed well. However, a week later he was relegated to the bench. After the international break, Alonso must use Estêvão, who is certainly unhappy with his playing time, more often. 5
Pedro Neto – Quietly, Neto has maintained consistent and strong performances this season. At times, he seems like a player who causes a lot of headaches, but he seems to impress Alonso every week. Neto certainly needs to offer more at times, but at least in most games, his performance has been quite consistent. 6
Geovany Quenda – Like Estêvão, it's unfair to judge Quenda given his limited playing time. The 19-year-old has only started once in the league this season. He has had some bright moments coming off the bench, but he needs more consistent playing time. 5
João Pedro – Despite missing a total of 5 games due to several injury problems, the Brazilian has had a very good start to the season. 5 goals and 3 assists in 6 Premier League games are enough to show how important João Pedro is to this team. 8
Welbeck – Only 1 Premier League start. The 35-year-old striker probably thought he would get more opportunities at Chelsea, especially when João Pedro was absent, but that was not the case. He has struggled at times, but also scored 3 goals, all of which came in the League Cup. 6