Two Chelsea players labelled ‘world’s best’ have endured nightmare seasons – Footymercato.com
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Chelsea duo Benoit Badiashile and Reece James have previously been rated among the world’s best players in their respective positions but have struggled to live up to that billing this season. Injuries and a loss of form have combined to prevent both defenders from making an impact at Stamford Bridge under Mauricio Pochettino.
Badiashile and James have played a combined 19 Premier League matches this season. The Frenchman, a January signing last season, has seen a groin problem keep him out for most of the campaign.
James has been limited to only 390 minutes of top-flight action due to a hamstring injury and subsequent surgery on an issue that has plagued him for the last two years. He has been unable to feature prominently during his first season as Chelsea’s captain and faces a race to be fit for Euro 2024.
Just after Badiashile’s arrival from Monaco, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards told the BBC’s Monday Night Club: “Badiashile is one of the brightest young talents there is in world football and he’s playing very well.”
But the 23-year-old has not been able to justify that view. Even when he has played, Badiashile has struggled to find the form that convinced Chelsea to pay £32.5m to Monaco just over a year ago.
Similarly, England international James has been unavailable for Pochettino for most of the campaign. That will have come as a big blow to the Chelsea head coach, who has subsequently been without a player who he believes is one of the world’s best full-backs.
“It’s really important. It’s important that your captain stay fit and can help the team. One of the best full backs in the world,” the Chelsea boss said in March when James returned from his initial hamstring issue.
James is highly thought of among his colleagues. Trevoh Chalobah agreed that the 24-year-old was world-class as far back as October 2022.
“I’ve said it from day one,” Chalobah, who came through Chelsea’s academy alongside James, said at the time. “Right now, he could be the best in the world [in that position].”
It is unclear whether Chelsea’s season might have been vastly improved had they been able to call upon both players. Malo Gusto has excelled at right-back in James’s absence, but Pochettino’s side have lacked quality in central defence while Badiashile has been sidelined.
The Blues will hope that Badiashile and James can have undisrupted seasons next term. Both will be key to kickstarting the Todd Boehly era.
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