FPL

FPL team guide 2021/22 – Chelsea: Best players, stats and more

Our team-by-team guide to the new Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season continues with this preview of Chelsea.

Don’t forget that you can find official Opta team and player information on the Blues and every other Premier League side in our Premium Members Area, to help with your planning for Gameweek 1.

FPL price reveal and launch reaction from three-time top 200 finisher Lateriser 1


SEASON OF TWO HALVES

2020/21 was a season of two halves at Stamford Bridge.

Under Frank Lampard, the Blues made a good start but then faded and sat ninth in the Premier League ahead of his departure in January. 

Thomas Tuchel was then quickly appointed as the new head coach and inspired an instant turnaround.

The German tactician started with a 14-game unbeaten streak which saw them fly up the table and finish fourth. They also reached the FA Cup final, and of course, the defining moment came in May when they defeated Manchester City to lift their second Champions League trophy.

The introduction of a back-three with a double pivot ahead of them turned Chelsea into one of the best defensive sides in Europe, as they produced 11 clean sheets and conceded just 13 goals, both league leading-totals during that period.

CHELSEA’S PREMIER LEAGUE STATISTICS UNDER LAMPARD AND TUCHEL IN 2020/21:

LampardTuchel
Matches1919
Goals3325
Goals conceded2313
Clean sheets711
Expected goals (xG)29.8433.11
Expected goals conceded (xGC)18.3712.05

ROTATION CONCERNS

Tuchel’s tendency to rotate and mix and match his line-ups was a real headache for FPL managers last season.

César Azpilicueta (£6.0m) led the way with 17 starts, followed by Edouard Mendy (£6.0m) and Mason Mount (£7.5m), with 16 and 15 respectively.

MOST PREMIER LEAGUE STARTS UNDER TUCHEL:

StartsMinutes
Azpilicueta171511
Mendy161395
Mount 151362
Rüdiger151350
Jorginho151309
Werner131205
James121194
Kovačić           11986
Chilwell11939
Christensen10969

Investing in Chelsea’s players, especially their attacking ones, is a high-risk/high-reward strategy, and you get the feeling that hopping on and off at the right time next season will be key.

THE DEFENCE

Many players raised their game under Tuchel, none more so than Antonio Rüdiger (£5.5m).

The German international was excellent throughout the second half of the campaign and thrived as the left-sided centre-back in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 set-up.

Much like Rüdiger, Azpilicueta also impressed as he played as both a wing-back and centre-half, and as revealed above, is probably the most secure route into their backline.

However, despite concerns over minutes, the regular wing-backs carry the most potential.

176 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL_trail_runner
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    As someone who currently has Buendia but is doubting the choice

    Another look doesnt seem so appealng for Villa's opening fixtures

    Watford were the best defence, and indeed very defensive since the new manager came in. I can see Villa struggling there against a deep defence

    Newcastle are hard to call either way yet.

    I see Brentford as a decent game for Villa attacking returns, but then I also expect disruption with Grealish either way.

    1. One Man
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Don’t pick him if so unsure. If he blanks first game with this lack of trust in him, you’ll prob sell anyway.

      1. CBonci
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        I agree. Also, if he’s on set pieces and is nailed he will create chances regularly. I don’t see him as high risk to start with.

  2. RUUD!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    How would you rate this team, quite happy and won't be tinkering again now, thanks.

    Sanchez (4.0)
    TAA Shaw Digne Konsa (Lamptey)
    Salah Bruno Grealish Raphinha (Bissouma)
    DCL Watkins (4.5)

    1. One Man
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      Very good.

    2. CBonci
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I like it. Can switch between form players with the price points you have. The one thing I’d say is maybe Targett instead of Konsa for a higher ceiling.

  3. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    What do you guys think about having 2 4,5 defenders like ailing and lamptey Vs an attacking 5.0 like regulion and a trash 4.0?

    Plan would basically be to have shaw taa and cancelo start every week and then rotate form 3,4,3 to 4,3,3 or 4,4,2 depending on fixtures

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 8 months ago

      I'm having a 4.0m no matter what. If you have 3 solid guys, you don't need anything else. I'd take a 4.5m stalwart like Ayling who's nailed and won't be rotated for emergencies and that's it. You'll use transfers to replace your mids and forwards anyway.

      1. Silecro
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 8 months ago

        if you plan to have even one City player, not to mention two, you will need all the playing bench you can get

  4. Tomcon6
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 8 months ago

    Kane must be included surely?