The resurgent Chelsea ‘machine’ is now one of the best players in the PL

Chelsea are dreaming of illustrious success, but that project is a work in progress and there is no doubt that the Londoners have improved in recent years.

Last season’s efforts under coach Enzo Maresca led to Champions League qualification and triumph on two continents, winning the Conference League and then beating Paris Saint-Germain over the pond to win the Club World Cup in its new format.

Since Todd Boehly and co arrived at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have recruited heavily, and this summer has been no different. But there is a new level of consistency within the team, more focus and quality from corner to corner.

The Blues no longer rely as much on Cole Palmer to lead the way. And that’s a good thing too, given the 23-year-old’s groin injury was confirmed by Maresca on Friday morning as aggravated, extending his absence.

How Chelsea can cope without Palmer

It’s not unfair to say that Chelsea have at times relied on Palmer’s brilliance since the Three Lions star made a £42.5million move from Manchester City in 2023.

In 101 matches in all competitions for Chelsea, Palmer scored 45 goals and provided 29 assists, effortlessly good in attacking midfield.

This season, the first months of poor physical condition have put a damper on the wheels, and this will now extend into the last month of 2025, dealing a major blow to Maresca and his men.

As frustrating as it is, this setback is no longer as detrimental as it once was. After all, a number of Chelsea’s biggest talents have now come into their own.

Some believe Moises Caicedo has taken the crown as the club’s new main man. Truly, the Ecuadorian has come into his own this year, with Sky Sports’ Gary Neville even saying he is “the best midfielder in the league”.

It’s a far cry from the initial buzz around his name after joining Brighton for a record fee of £115m in 2023.

But Caicedo is not alone. Chelsea also broke the bank for Enzo Fernandez after the Argentine’s phenomenal World Cup campaign in Qatar. He’s had his ups and downs and been scapegoated on one or two occasions, but he’s become an increasingly prolific force in the last year and works tirelessly to connect thirds.

However, there is another first-team player at Stamford Bridge who has flattered to deceive for a while, but is now firing on all cylinders and could actually rival Palmer for the status of one of the Premier League’s best players.

The Chelsea star is now one of the best in the Prem

As long as he is a member of Chelsea’s first team, Palmer will be the poster boy. But the silky playmaker is no longer in charge of an individual team.

As the frontline continues to grow stronger, players like Marc Cucurella are finally realizing their potential and shaping Maresca’s vision into a complete and deep one.

In 2022, the 27-year-old joined Chelsea from Brighton for £60 million, a staggering sum for a full-back. And for the first year or two, Boehly would be hard-pressed to argue that he got his money’s worth, even if the Blues’ broader problems exacerbated Cucurella’s.

Journalist Tom Overend recently admitted that the £175,000-a-week talent “seemed lost” during his first foray into life at Chelsea, but he has since bounced back and is considered “one of the best left-backs in the world”.

The data speaks for itself. Cucurella’s tactical duty has changed since his arrival from Brighton, shifting under Maresca’s wing more often, contributing to the rise in power.

And with such a confident death, Maresca’s decision to use him in this way makes sense. According to FBref data, the Spaniard ranks in the top 11% of Premier League peers so far this season for assists, top 2% for completed passes and top 11% for passes attempted per 90.

Not only that, but Cucurella has also become more creative in its distribution. Sofascore record that he averaged 1.4 chances created per Premier League match. Additionally, he won two tackles on average per game and won 58% of his ground duels.

Palmer and Cucurella are very different players and at different stages of their careers, but the latter’s meteoric rise is undeniable. He knows what it means to work hard and struggle to get back up from the sidelines. Indeed, Cucurella was once described as “disgrace” for his performances by the always outspoken Jamie O’Hara.

But the “machine,” as content creator Terry Flewers called him, is now a fixture, having added goals and assists to his game while strengthening his defensive skills and boosting his athleticism.

Underlining the trust his manager has in him, no Chelsea player has featured more often under Maresca than Cucurella.

It is interesting to consider that a full-back is one of the most influential players within a competitive Premier League team. Few could challenge this position within a team. Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool would be a good example of this.

Cucurella may not have the same passing range, but if he continues his current rich form over the course of the season and the next few years, he would make a compelling case for being one of the most complete defenders in the division’s history.

If so, he’s surely becoming one of the best in the country.