Combined XI of the three Chelsea teams to go nine games unbeaten at the start of a Premier League season

Chelsea‘s 2-2 draw with Manchester United at the weekend was a dramatic one with Ross Barkley scoring an injury-time equaliser to rob Jose Mourinho of bragging rights over his former club.

The aftermath of the goal, which saw a melee on the touchline between Mourinho and Chelsea assistant coach Marco Ianni, has seen the game largely overlooked, aside from a few key analytical points.

One of the things that has been overlooked though, and arguably one of the biggest, is the continuation of Chelsea’s unbeaten run. On its own, it isn’t too impressive with both Manchester City and Liverpool also yet to taste defeat this season.

But this is now the third time the Blues have gone nine matches unbeaten at the start of a Premier League season.

The previous two both came under Mourinho in 2005/06 and 2014/15, seasons in which the Blues would go on to win the Premier League title.

Though Maurizio Sarri’s current side look to be some way off truly challenging for the title, the fact that the club are currently emulating two great Premier League-winning sides will give his players a lot of confidence going forward.

But who would make it into an ultimate XI composed of the players to start for those three teams? Squawka takes a look and makes the tough decision below, based on how they performed in the opening nine matches of their respective seasons.

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech (2005/06)

Key stat: Petr Cech kept six clean sheets in the opening nine games of the 2005/06 season.

In the entirety of the 2004/05 season, Chelsea conceded just 15 goals in the Premier League and started the following campaign off in the same vein.

The Blues kept six consecutive clean sheets at the start of 2005/06, with Aston Villa’s Luke Moore the first to breach Cech’s net as late as September 24. And even then, Chelsea would concede just three goals in games seven, eight and nine to complete a perfect start (nine wins).

Contenders: Thibaut Courtois (2014/15), Kepa Arrizabalaga (2018/19)

Right-back: Branislav Ivanovic (2014/15)

Key stat: Branislav Ivanovic contributed to three goals in the opening nine games in 2014/15, scoring twice and recording one assist.

Arguably Branislav Ivanovic’s best season in a Chelsea shirt, the defender started as he meant to go on in 2014/15.

The Serbian was a constant attacking threat for Jose Mourinho’s side, forever pushing down the right with his strength and, somewhat surprising, pace.

Contenders: Paulo Ferreira (2005/06), Glen Johnson (2005/06), Geremi (2005/06), Cesar Azpilicueta (2018/19)

Centre-back: John Terry (2005/06)

Key stat: John Terry played every minute of Chelsea opening nine games in 2005/06, contributing to the defence which conceded just three goals.

After captaining the club to their first league title in 50 years the season before, Terry continued to lead by example at the heart of the Chelsea defence.

The centre-back would miss just two matches throughout the entire 2005/06 campaign – after the Blues had wrapped up the title – and started off strongly helping to protect Cech in goal with his formidable defensive presence.

Contenders: John Terry (2014/15), Antonio Rudiger (2018/19)

Centre-back: William Gallas (2005/06)

Key stat: William Gallas started five games at centre-back during Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the 2005/06 season.

When many think of Chelsea’s first two Premier League-winning defences, they have John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho as the centre-back pairing.

And while that may be the case for the rest of the 2005/06 season, for the first five games William Gallas partnered Terry, and did a very good job of it.

In Gallas’ five matches as a centre-back alongside Terry, Chelsea did not concede a single goal. Upon Carvalho’s return to the XI, the Frenchman switched over to right-back.

Contenders: Ricardo Carvalho (2005/06), Gary Cahill (2014/15), David Luiz (2018/19)

Left-back: Marcos Alonso (2018/19)

Key stat: Marcos Alonso has directly contributed to three goals in the Premier League this season (one goal, two assists).

The Chelsea era’s both pre- and post-Ashley Cole brought a strange mix of left-backs for Chelsea, with three Spaniards picked to defend the left flank.

While Cesar Azpilicueta is strong defensively, Marcos Alonso’s attacking contribution at left-back sets him above his competitors, recording two assists so far this season and scoring the winner in the 3-2 Premier League win over Arsenal at the start of the campaign.

Contenders: Asier del Horno (2005/06), Cesar Azpilicueta (2014/15), Filipe Luis (2014/15)

Central midfielder: Claude Makelele (2005/06)

Key stat: Claude Makelele played in eight of Chelsea’s nine games at the start of the 2005/06 season.

The man so good they named a role after him, Claude Makelele was a dynamo sitting just in front of the Chelsea defence.

Though N’Golo Kante would go on to perform just as well as Makelele in recent years, the current Chelsea No. 7 has seen his role slightly change this season – meaning only one Frenchman comes out on top.

Contenders: Nemanja Matic (2014/15), Jorginho (2018/19), N’Golo Kante (2018/19)

Central midfielder: Cesc Fabregas (2014/15)

Key stat: Cesc Fabregas recorded eight assists in the opening nine Premier League games in 2014/15.

Brought back to the Premier League by Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2014, Cesc Fabregas hit the ground running, setting up team-mates whenever he could.

Kicking off with two assists on his debut, the Spaniard would go on to record eight in the first nine games of the 2014/15 Premier League seasons. Only against Manchester City, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace did Fabregas fail to set up a team-mate during that run.

Contenders: Michael Essien (2005/06), Ramires (2014/15), Mateo Kovacic (2018/19)

Central midfielder: Frank Lampard (2005/06)

Key stat: Frank Lampard directly contributed to 10 goals in the opening nine matches of the Premier League in 2005/06, scoring seven and recording three assists.

By the 2005/06 season, Frank Lampard was well in the swing of becoming the great goalscoring midfielder he was known as.

The Englishman was Chelsea’s top scorer after nine games with seven goals, just under a third of the Blues’ total in that time and two more than striker Didier Drogba.

Contenders: Oscar (2014/15), Ross Barkley (2018/19)

Right winger: Damien Duff (2005/06)

Key stat: Damien Duff scored twice and recorded two assists in the opening nine games in 2005/06.

Chelsea’s back-to-back title successes under Mourinho were built largely off an impressive spine, but the Blues’ wingers must also take some plaudits.

At the start of the 2005/06 season there was none better at Chelsea than Damien Duff, with the Irishman causing trouble on the right with his pace, while Arjen Robben did the same on the left. And Duff helped himself to a couple of goals too in the opening nine matches, while also assisting twice.

Contenders: Joe Cole (2005/06), Andre Schurrle (2014/15), Willian (2014/15, 2018/19), Pedro (2018/19)

Striker: Diego Costa (2014/15)

Key stat: Diego Costa scored nine goals in his first nine Premier League games for Chelsea.

Didier Drogba had a fantastic career for Chelsea, winning virtually everything there is to be won, and scoring vital goals along the way.

But in terms of starts to the aforementioned seasons, Drogba’s five goals in nine games in 2005/06 pales in comparison to the nine Diego Costa scored nine years later.

The Spaniard terrorised English defences upon his arrival to Chelsea, building up a good understanding with Fabregas from the off.

Contenders: Didier Drogba (2005/06, 2014/15), Eidur Gudjohnsen (2005/06), Hernan Crespo (2005/06), Loic Remy (2014/15), Alvaro Morata (2018/19), Olivier Giroud (2018/19)

Left winger: Eden Hazard (2018/19)

Key stat: Eden Hazard has directly contributed to 10 goals in the Premier League this season, scoring seven and recording three assists.

Right now at Chelsea, there is none better than the Premier League’s top scorer Eden Hazard.

Despite doubts surrounding his Chelsea future, the Belgian has been vital to Sarri’s successes this season, scoring seven goals so far. Such is Hazard’s importance to the team’s style of play, that when the Belgian has a poor game, so do Chelsea.

Contenders: Shaun Wright-Phillips (2005/06), Arjen Robben (2005/06), Eden Hazard (2014/15)

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