Chelsea news: Opinion – Cucurella and Chalobah in underrated XI

As the dust settles on this Premier League season, we asked former England international Fara Williams for her underrated XI for the season.

She selected two players who have represented Chelsea this year.

Marc Cucurella

Cucurella has gone from a player fans really didn’t like when he first joined to a cult hero. He has played almost every game this season and stepped up a level in terms of his consistency.

His energy, desire and winning mentality have had such a positive impact on the young team around him and even at 26 he has taken responsibility as a senior player.

Because of the way he presents himself on the pitch he is very easy to dislike which is probably why he doesn’t get the credit he deserves as one of the league’s best full-backs.

Trevoh Chalobah

It would have been easy for Chalobah to shut off when deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea at the start of the season and shipped off to Crystal Palace on loan, but he kept his head down, worked hard, and represented the Eagles with distinction.

Then when recalled to Chelsea, he didn’t fuss and was a reliable performer when selected. He is maybe not your modern-day centre-back who steps into the play, but he defends solidly and wins his duels.

To put in seven or eight out of 10 performances every week despite difficult situations and an uncertain future is admirable and he deserves his chance in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport’s Nat Hayward