Even when footballers reach the very highest of levels, their true talents aren't always immediately obvious. The calibre of player in the Premier League and Champions League can make it difficult for the extent of a player's ability to shine through as they cancel each other out to some extent.
Despite a whole host of successes in the last 12 months with victories in the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, this is even evident of a few of Chelsea's stars. The quality Thomas Tuchel has extracted from the likes of Antonio Rudiger has transformed the perception of the German international, but it just goes to show that those who are out of favour or out of fashion may still have a lot to offer. Other players are simply that good, it's not possible for someone who doesn't regularly watch them to understand the level they are regularly reaching.
We take a look at the players who could be identified as underappreciated in Tuchel's squad.
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Andreas Christensen: Much like Rudiger blossomed under Tuchel, Christensen is another who has thrived since the Blues began to favour three central defenders. The Denmark international is set to leave the club this summer and given some fractious tension over his contract, his reputation in the eyes of many may have been sullied.
Nevertheless, he played a crucial role in Chelsea's Champions League campaign last season and stepped up when he needed to replace Thiago Silva in the final. His ability to play in the heart of defence and relieve Silva of playing every game is impressive, and the 25-year-old has developed an unexpected physicality to his game. He may not be as immediately indispensable as Rudiger and SIlva have become for the Blues, but forms a fearsome three that enhances the Blues' calibre at the back.
Mateo Kovacic: It's undeniable that Kovacic has had a quality season. Chelsea's youngsters talk up his influence in training and his performances have certainly left Blues supporters with plenty of adoration. But does the rest of the world understand quite how good he is just yet?
The Croatian midfielder was lost in the shadow of N'Golo Kante and Jorginho as the duo made the top five of the Ballon d'Or, though their ranking was warranted given the success they achieved in 2021. Kovacic was a pillar in Chelsea's midfield at the start of the season as they recovered from international exploits and injuries. His presence was missed when he suffered an abductor injury at the start of the winter period.
His ability to dribble through the lines of the opposition and pick out a pass in tight spaces are close to unmatched for the Blues, and that goal against Liverpool was quite something too. It's a relief to see his contract lasting until 2024 given the uncertain situations Kante and Jorginho could find themselves in this summer.
Callum Hudson-Odoi: It's should not be forgotten that Hudson-Odoi was of the most highly-regarded youngsters in world football when Bayern Munich tried to tempt him to Germany, and it's perhaps been easy to forget how good he remains. The 21-year-old had to put in the work and time to convince Tuchel that he was more than just a rotation option at wing-back and appears to have succeeded for the most part. Though he still proved he can deliver for the team against Palmeiras.
The likes of Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount are all delivering goals and assists since the turn of the year, while Hudson-Odoi has suffered from an Achilles issues. That will present the Cobham product with an almighty task, but he is still delivery a key pass every 38.6 minutes from open play - a figure that sees him in competition with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Jack Grealish.
Mason Mount: For many this will seem ridiculous, but there are actually still people who remain unconvinced by Mount. In reality, he's as close as the Blues have to an undroppable player among their attackers.
The England international has already recorded his best figures this season having reached 20 goals and assists in 2021/22, and that figure has also seen him reach 50 goal involvements in his Blues career. Mount is more than that, though, and connects Chelsea's midfield three and forwards in a way few others can. When the Blues are unconvincing, he is still able to produce.
Opposition supporters are usually unconvinced too as the likes of Jadon Sancho and Emile Smith Rowe's names can be found in Twitter comments whenever he is praised. Mount acts as a heartbeat and will always be more than his numbers, but is still just 23. Frank Lampard was unable to record more than 13 goal contributions until his third Chelsea season, when he recorded 24 in 2003/04 - the season he turned 25.
