Chelsea's best ever XI ... the holding midfielder 🧠 | OneFootball

With football postponed for the moment, we’ve been thinking about who gets in Chelsea’s all-time XI.

Today we’re choosing the holding midfielder.

Here are the nominees …

3rd – N’Golo Kanté

From SM Caen reserve to World Cup winner in just five years, N’Golo Kanté surely deserves a mention.

He was extraordinary for Leicester during their shock title win and continued that form at Chelsea, with his endless running, ability to dispossess opponents and diminutive bursts seeing him voted PFA Player of the Year in 2016/17.

Kanté has struggled slightly under Maurizio Sarri and now Frank Lampard, but that won’t detract from his Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup glories at Stamford Bridge.

2nd – Claude Makélélé

Claude Makélélé was so good that they decided name a position after him.

Neither the tallest nor strongest, his immaculate reading of the game and ability to time tackles revolutionised the ‘holding’ role, with his performances proving central to vast mid-2000s success for Chelsea.

Makélélé made 213 appearances for the Blues across five seasons, winning two Premier League titles, two league cups and an FA Cup.

And the winner is … Michael Essien

Not strictly a defensive midfielder, but we couldn’t have this team without Michael Essien.

Few could match his strength and dominance when in peak condition, while he quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his taste for stunning goals and versatility – after enjoying a short spell at right back.

Injuries unfortunately hampered his progress, but he made 256 appearances for Chelsea across nine seasons, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League.

Here’s how the team is looking so far …

GK: Petr Čech RB: Branislav Ivanović CB: Ron Harris CB: John Terry LB: Ashley Cole DM: Michael Essien

Check back tomorrow when we will be choosing another midfielder.