In Focus: Badiashile bringing defensive nous to Blues' backline

Benoit Badiashile is one of many new faces at Chelsea and standing out as one of the shrewdest acquisitions from their latest spending spree. 

The Blues signed the Frenchman from Monaco this winter and he has hit the ground running having been hailed as his side's best performer in their goalless draw with Fulham.

In every game the 21-year-old has played since arriving at Stamford Bridge, his team have kept a clean sheet. 

Ahead of Chelsea's trip to face West Ham today, we look at the impact Badiashile has had in West London and how he has been so successful in shoring up Graham Potter's defence.

Calm amidst the storm

Stamford Bridge has been something of a whirlwind this season, with Thomas Tuchel sacked in September and replaced with Potter. 

Things have not exactly run smoothly since — Chelsea have won five, drawn five and lost five of the 15 Premier League games they have played under the former Brighton boss, accumulating 20 points. 

That leaves them in ninth place ahead of their trip to East London, where they take on a Hammers side in the midst of a relegation dogfight. 

But the bold moves made during January do seem to have instilled a sense of confidence in the Blues. They have not lost in three games and Badiashile has been key to that run.

Forging relationships

A strong centre-back partnership is a vital foundation for a successful side and — while it is still too early to say definitively — it seems Badiashile is well on his way to building that with new team-mate Thiago Silva. 

The pair have started together in all three of the Frenchman's Premier League games so far and boast an undefeated record. 

Silva is at the opposite end of his career to Badiashile. The Rio de Janeiro native turned 38 in September and has been operating at an elite level since joining Milan in 2009. 

Flying debut

Badiashile made his Chelsea debut at Stamford Bridge as the Blues beat London rivals Crystal Palace 1-0 last month. 

Speaking after the game, the young defender revealed how much he loved playing alongside Silva. 

He said: "First and foremost, it is a real honour to play alongside [Silva]. For a young player like me, he is someone that makes things easy. He is a legend, is he not? He is a real leader, very experienced. 

"Any of the advice that he gives me is always welcome. He has advised me not only when we have been playing, he has spoken to me during the game but also before the game and in training as well. 

"So he is someone that you can only learn alongside. And, as I say, it is an absolute honour to line up alongside him."

Vive la France

Silva is a fluent French speaker courtesy of the eight years he spent at Paris Saint-Germain between 2012 and 2020, enabling him to communicate impeccably with Badiashile both on and off the pitch. 

But that is not the only reason they make the ideal pair. 

At his age, Silva relies on his experience to compensate for a lack of pace. Badiashile, meanwhile, is the complete physical package. 

Standing at 6ft 4in, the 21-year-old is strong, quick and moves swiftly to snuff out danger. He has won six tackles, four interceptions and 10 aerial duels in 270 minutes of Premier League football. 

But he is not just an old-fashioned ball-winner. In possession, he has proven himself calm and collected, completing 251 of his 275 passes. 

Chelsea may have found across a gem who can help them salvage something from what has been a disappointing campaign thus far.