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5 players Chelsea must upgrade to get back in the Champions League

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Sesc Fabregas (2nd R) of Chelsea reacts after scoring his team's second goal from the penalty during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Sesc Fabregas (2nd R) of Chelsea reacts after scoring his team's second goal from the penalty during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on March 19, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea's Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge in London on March 9, 2016. / AFP / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stamford Bridge in London on March 9, 2016. / AFP / GLYN KIRK (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images) /

5. Cesar Azpilicueta

This name might surprise quite a few Chelsea fans. After all, the Spanish left back has been one of the team’s most solid players on the year. The trouble I have with him in the Chelsea lineup, is that he isn’t really a left back.

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I’ve put his name on this list because a club like Chelsea should have a natural left back. Perhaps the new manager will bring someone in or perhaps they’ll throw Kenedy into the position and see if he can hold it down. No matter the remedy, Azpilicueta shouldn’t start 28 Premier League matches at left back for Chelsea next season.

Now the trick here is I think it would be entirely appropriate for Azpilicueta to start that many matches. He should just do so at the expense of Branislav Ivanovic at right back. After all, that is his more natural position.

Azpilicueta has done a solid job playing left back for the Blues this season, but Chelsea is too big a club to force him into that role. It’s high time they upgrade the position this summer by flexing some of their considerable financial muscle.

Next: 4. John Terry

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