Chelsea are represented in the latest Premier League team of the week that has been selected by BBC pundit Garth Crooks.
Actually Garth is now down as a ‘Football Analyst’ these days, a posh term for a pundit then!
The performances by Thibaut Courtois, Cesar Alzpilicueta, David Luiz and Victor Moses in the one nil victory over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend at The Hawthorns was enough to earn them a place in the side alongside the other, in the opinion of the former Spurs striker anyway, most impressive performers in the topflight over the latest weekend.
I think we’ll already know ourselves, and not just based on the latest performance, why Crooks, we’ll also not argue with it, selected the four as part of his team but explaining his choice he told the BBC.
Courtois:
‘You cannot win Premier League titles without having an outstanding goalkeeper. Last season, Courtois found life difficult at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea paid a hefty price. This season the Belgium international has been immense. Against West Brom, Courtois made a crucial save in the early exchanges to stop Salomon Rondon from opening his account. Such a start for the Blues would have been a nightmare but Courtois was bang in form and stuck to his task brilliantly throughout. Only Arsenal now stand between Chelsea and a league and FA Cup double but Courtois is a world-class keeper and domestic doubles are fine but for him it must be about Champion League titles.’
Azpilicueta:
‘What a season this player has had. I remember him starting his career at Chelsea and having to play as a left-back. He coped brilliantly well considering he was naturally right-footed and while he solved the club’s left-sided problem post Ashley Cole, he could not really show his true potential. Since the arrival of Antonio Conte, Cesar Azpilicueta has not merely shown his true potential but realised it. The versatile defender produced a world-class performance against West Brom at The Hawthorns and what a time to do it. He was imperious in defence and creative in attack. It was Azpilicueta’s cross that provided the opening for Michy Batshuayi to slide the ball home. What he was doing so far up the field in open play tells you all you need to know about the commitment and desire of the Spain international. However, when you study his season, he has been ever present and quietly got on with his job. This was a brilliant performance by a player who has become a world-class defender under Conte.’
Luiz:
‘This was the player who originally arrived at Stamford Bridge in a blaze of glory and left with his tail between his legs. I remember his first game against Fulham when he had a fantastic debut and scored the most impressive goal. However, Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti’s second season in charge didn’t turn out too well for Chelsea and David Luiz seemed to take the blame for the demise. A spell away from the Bridge taught him that when you are a top-class defender, you don’t have to do anything out of the ordinary to prove it – just defend. That is precisely what he did against a West Brom side desperate to rain on Chelsea’s parade and has been doing since his return. The Brazilian has been magnificent for the Blues this season. No lollipops, or rabonas, but he did everything in his power to protect his goalkeeper. Who would have thought that simple, good old-fashioned defending would win you titles in the modern era.’
Moses:
‘The screams of delight by Victor Moses has he embraced Batshuayi after the striker secured victory at The Hawthorns was a compelling sight. Here were two young men who had just realised they had won the Premier League title and at the same time embedded themselves into Chelsea folklore. Did either of them ever think at the beginning of this season that they would be sharing in such a momentous occasion? I doubt it. Yet here they were revelling in the moment. Moses has been a revelation for Chelsea this season, partly due to his ability to adapt to a system few thought would be successful in the Premier League never mind win the title, and the consummate manner in which he has made the position his own. Moses could have won the Chelsea the title himself when he brought a fantastic one-handed save from Ben Foster. Sir Winston Churchill said ‘we have a small time for celebration’ immediately after the Second World War and I fear Antonio Conte has even less time to prepare Chelsea for the demands of European football and a relentless season ahead. Moses has now won a Premier League title and I would not bet against him adding a Champions League medal to his collection very soon.’
It’s always good to see the club represented in this way, and well played to all four for their recognition, but the most important thing about the weekend was of course the points.
Full Team:
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Kyle Naughton (Swansea City), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), David Luiz (Chelsea), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
