Total appearances including subs
Terry 717, Hazard 249, Cahill 239, Azpilicueta 228, David Luiz 181,
Willian 181, Matic 154, Fabregas 133, Diego Costa 120, Courtois 108,
Moses 84, Pedro 83, Zouma 71, Remy 47, Kante 41, Alonso 35, Begovic 33,
Loftus-Cheek 32, Batshuayi 28, Baba 23, Kenedy 22, Ake 17, Traore 16,
N Chalobah 15, Cuadrado 15, Aina 6, Kalas 4, Van Ginkel 4,
Christensen 3, Piazon 3, Abraham 2, Miazga 2, Baker 1, I Brown 1,
Clarke-Salter 1, Solanke 1, Tomori 1
Total starts + subs
Terry 686+31, Cahill 226+13, Hazard 215+34, Azpilicueta 214+14,
David Luiz 169+12, Willian 135+46, Matic 133+21, Diego Costa 109+11,
Fabregas 108+25, Courtois 108, Pedro 63+20, Moses 62+22, Zouma 51+20,
Kante 39+2, Alonso 34+1, Begovic 31+2, Baba 19+4, Remy 16+31,
Loftus-Cheek 13+19, Ake 9+8, Kenedy 8+14, Batshuayi 7+21, N Chalobah 5+10,
Traore 4+12, Cuadrado 4+11, Aina 2+4, Kalas 2+2, Van Ginkel 2+2,
Christensen 2+1, Piazon 2+1, Miazga 2, Abraham 0+2, Baker 0+1, I Brown 0+1,
Clarke-Salter 0+1, Solanke 0+1, Tomori 0+1
Current squad goalscorers
Hazard 72 (17 pens), Terry 67, Diego Costa 59 (1 pen), Willian 31 (1 pen),
Cahill 25, Pedro 21, Fabregas 18 (3 pens), Moses 14, David Luiz 13 (2 pens),
Remy 12, Batshuayi 9 (1 pen), Matic 7, Alonso 6, Azpilicueta 5,
Traore 4, Zouma 4, Kante 2, Kenedy 2, Loftus-Cheek 2
Current squad clean sheets
Courtois 39, Begovic 10
THE PRE-MATCH BRIEFING SPECIAL MENTIONS
Antonio!
'I hope we can surprise people, that there is a small flame flickering
that can grow into a blazing inferno.' Evoking Dorothy Moore's soul
classic during his introduction to the English media
'Last season was a bad season and I don't want to repeat it. This season
the manager, the players, all the people at the club must take
responsibility. We win together and we lose together.' Contemplating the
home defeat to Liverpool
'Now, we are a great team only on the paper, not on the pitch. I prefer
not only to be great team in paper but also on the pitch, because the
pitch speaks. The pitch is the truth.' After the loss at Arsenal
'I must be honest, it was my idea to start with two forward players and
two wingers. But we didn't find the right balance. I tried to change to
4-3-3 to play with more in midfield. Then I changed to 3-4-3. The message
to the players was very clear. When you arrive at the point where every
game you concede chances, you have to change something.'
'My way of living the game is always the same. I like to play the game
with my players. Other coaches stay seated. For me it's impossible. I live
the game with great emotion and great passion. I am a passionate man but I
always show respect for the opponent.' After Chelsea 4 Manchester Utd 0
'I always appreciate a lot the behaviour of our fans when we play away,
because in every single moment they are always behind us.' In October 2016
'Congratulations go to my players. To win 13 games in a row in this league
is very difficult. At the start of the season, not one coach, not one
person, not one journalist trusted in this team to fight for the title in
this league this season.' On 1 January
'Only through work can dreams happen.'
Another Win, Another Planet
'This was the best 90-minute performance I have ever seen in the Premier
League. I put it above anything I saw from Arsenal when they were at their
best. I put it above anything I saw from Manchester United. Because this
was football on another planet.' Commentator John Motson on Chelsea's
devastation of Everton
'They ain't gonna become casual. They look very serious. How solid,
organised, good physical shape. Defend with five, attack with five. Of
course I'm impressed.' West Ham coach Slaven Bilic
'In the boxes they are so, so strong. At the end of football is goals.'
Pep Guardiola, after our decisive win at the Etihad on 3 December
'I see every single moment, every day. It is commitment, the way we
prepare for the game and the way they fight. I am pleased for the fans who
are fantastic home and away and who push us.' Ashley Cole, December, while
training with his former team-mates at Cobham
'I have to tell thanks to the Chelsea fans because the welcome was
fantastic. To see the Italian flag in the stand, I had emotion.' Conte
acknowledges the passionate travelling supporters (including Willian's
dad, Seu Severino) after the title was won at the Hawthorns
'My biggest achievement was that the players gave me availability to work
hard on the physical, tactical and video analysis aspects.' The head coach
again
'Don't worry I got this yall. God loves unexpected heroes.' The iconic
tweet from the Hawthorns by title-winning goalscorer Michy Batshuayi
'They were a world apart.' Sky Sports analyst Thierry Henry sums up the
champions
THEY ALSO SERVED…
Since the start of the 2016/17 season we have said thanks and farewell to
the following players who have moved on.
John Mikel Obi, debut 13 Aug 2006 (Tianjin TEDA)
Bransilav Ivanovic, debut 28 Sep 2008 (Zenit St Petersburg)
Oscar, debut 19 Aug 2012 (Shanghai SIPG)
[not including those moving after 1 July]
LEST WE FORGET...
Since the end of last season the following former players have sadly
passed away.
Johnny Brooks (23 Dec 1931–7 Jun 2016)
David Stride (14 Mar 1958–10 Jun 2016)
Peter Brabrook (8 Nov 1937–10 Dec 2016)
John Phillips (7 Jul 1951–31 Mar 2017)
Tony Potrac (21 Jan 1953–2 June 2017)
Chelsea FC extends condolences to the friends and family of these former
players, as well as gratitude to them for their service to the club.
Finally, thank you all very much again for following this column
throughout this remarkable campaign. We will be back to preview the title
defence league with a special Pre-Season Briefing in early August.