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Welcome to ESPN FC's #PremRank.

Beginning May 25, ESPN FC is counting down the top 50 players in the Premier League right now, as voted for by various columnists, editors and analysts. Who makes the cut? Disagree with our list? Tell us on Twitter using the hashtag #PremRank.

Why Cesar Azpilicueta makes the list

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has relied on the Spain full-back for his most significant games this season and he has not let his manager down. Agile moving forward and sound defensively, Azpilicueta was singled out by Mourinho for special praise following his side's vital 1-0 win against Manchester United in April, the manager saying the Spaniard was "the best player on the pitch."

Mourinho has also claimed there is no better defender when it comes to shackling a dangerous opposition winger, stating: "I think Azpilicueta is unbeatable. For many, many matches I haven't seen one player beat him in an individual duel." It was high praise from a coach who is renowned for building his success around defensive stability in his team, and it seems that in Azpilicueta Mourinho inherited a player in whom he has quickly developed great trust.
-- Kevin Palmer

The stats that tell the story

- Ranks second at Chelsea (and first among defenders) with 59 passes intercepted this season, despite playing only 29 games.
- Made career-high 29 Premier League starts this season, after 24 and 26 starts in his first two campaigns with Chelsea.

What the experts say

"Cesar Azpilicueta is nearing the end of his third season at Chelsea and it has been his best yet. The 25-year-old Spaniard arrived with little fanfare in the summer of 2012 but has since quietly established himself as one of the most dependable players in the Premier League. Professional yet unassuming, dynamic yet never flash, the former Marseille man is a manager's dream, executing his instructions to the letter and never performing outside of his remit." -- Phil Lythell, April 2015.

"Signed as a right-back from Marseille in August 2012 for a modest 7 million pounds, Azpilicueta soon proved his versatility to interim manager Rafael Benitez, who was happy to deploy him on the right or left flank. His positioning and game time were largely dependent on the fitness of Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic and whether Benitez chose to play Ivanovic as a centre-back." -- Mark Worrall, January 2015.

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