Chelsea is one of the hottest teams in FIFA 21. The west London club pulled off multiple transfers in the summer window which means that the squad came out with a new look in 2021. The team signed a new forward, midfielder, fullback, and center back, meaning that up to half the squad is new since last season. There are also some returning players with quality, so picking a starting XI will be tough for head coach Frank Lampard and anyone who picks Chelsea in Kick-Off mode.
New signings include forward Timo Werner, midfielder Hakim Ziyech, left-back Ben Chilwell, CB Thiago Silva. Also signed this summer is midfielder Kai Havertz, a player with a huge role in Chelsea's future, both in FIFA and in the Premier League. Both Havertz and Werner were star youngsters in the German Bundesliga last season. They each have a lot to prove after eye-watering transfer prices (Werner at $60 Million, Havertz at $80 Million according to ESPN) but look like future stars.
Using Chelsea in FIFA 21
Even picking a formation for this team can be tough. The team only has two CB's above 80 OVR, so it's probably best to play with four across the back. New boy Ben Chilwell is superior to Marcos Alonso at left-back, even if they do have the same rating. Before moving to the midfield, it's worth recognizing that the Blues only have one striker above 80 OVR, Werner. That means that Chelsea can field 5 players in midfield, making the team's best formation 4-5-1.
Chelsea has always been looking for a top-tier striker for a long time, and Werner is the latest edition. He's a pacey forward with good ball skills, but the main knock on the player is his lack of finishing ability. In FIFA 21 Werner is given a rating of 88 for finishing, 15th best in the game. When playing as Chelsea on Manager career mode, the need for another new striker will be felt.
The midfield is where Chelsea will win games. N'golo Kante is the best defensive mid in England, he's a must-start for this team. The other defensive mid, Jorginho is a tidy passer who can be used to launch long-balls to start counter-attacks. Jorginho works well with Werner at ST, because of the forward's ability to run onto through passes. There's also Christian Pulisic, the American phenom who plays on the left-wing. Pulisic's speed means that he can contribute to both attack and defense in a 4-5-1.
This leaves two spots, attacking mid and right-winger open. Kai Havertz has to occupy one, and he's traditionally picked in the center. This leaves the right-wing up to Hakim Ziyech, the Moroccan midfielder. Ziyech was also played in the center at his old club, Ajax, but is expected to move to the wing for real-life Chelsea. That doesn't mean that's what should happen on FIFA! It would actually make more sense to move Havertz to the wing because he's faster than Ziyech. Havertz also has better dribbling skills and better finishing. Ziyech needs to be played in the middle anyway; Passing is easier this year, and Ziyech is Chelsea's best, with 90 Long passing and 86 Short passing. Ziyech also is a better shooter from outside the box. Move Ziyech to CAM and put Havertz at RW.
Chelsea is one of the most exciting Manager career mode sides in the world. They've got future top talent in Havertz, Pulisic and Werner. The team is also backed by a rich owner, so the transfer budget is going to be large every year. The main needs of this team lie in defense. Thiago Silva is only going to be a top-level player for a few years, so finding a new CB is going to be the most important thing in the first few transfer windows of Manager career mode. Big-budget options from the Premier League like Liverpool's Van Dijk, Laporte, or Man United's Maguire are within Chelsea's financial capability, so players can basically take their pick. Going abroad, Chelsea could also land targets like Real Madrid's Varane, or Barcelona's Lenglet. Chelsea also has the budget to make a serious go at Messi or Ronaldo.
This team is one of FIFA 21's best. With an average rating of 80 OVR, only Champions League winners Bayern Munich are ahead of the London club. A stout defense combined with quick attackers means that Chelsea is capable of holding possession of the ball or a quick counter-attack. Kai Havertz is the key to this team, but don't be afraid to push him out wide. Find a new CB in Manager career mode, and this team could easily become a dynasty.
FIFA 21 is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.