WILLIAN - "Playing at another level this season!"

Where would Chelsea be this season without Willian. In a difficult season so far, one of his team mates has stated that he is "Playing at another level" this season. He's not wrong!

Those free kicks (six in all so far this season) have been fantastic. however for me it's his all round contribution that makes him stand out.

When you find yourselves on a bad run or struggling in games as we have so far this season, you look to your leaders for inspiration in the side (as my other blog post states a moment ago here), to lift the players, to give you something that can drag you out of situations to hopefully turn things around.

Willian so far, has been the man to have done that and currently stands head and shoulders above everyone else as our player of the season.

Gary Cahill has spoken of the hard-working Brazilian this week and said:

"From the start of the season he has been fantastic.

He’s taken it up to another level. When he gets a free-kick anywhere around that 18-yard box you get the feeling there is going to be a goal now. I said that to him after the goal. 

We see him in training practising them and it’s not luck, he works hard on them."

As I said, he will get the plaudits for his stunning strike rate from free kicks but for me it's everything else about his game.

He is a natural threat with the ball at his feet running at and taking on defenders as he looks to create and craft openings. Without the ball he works so hard to get back into position and to help the defence and that is so admirable especially from the stereotype most people had of Brazilian players being all about flair and attacking prowess.

I just hope that EVERYONE else takes note of how we had raised his game and they work just as hard to match him for the rest of the season.

The first name on Jose's team sheet and player of the year without question despite what happens between now and the end of the season!