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Though results have gradually picked up since the arrival of Guus Hiddink as interim manager, few would deny that it's been a pretty rough season for Chelsea.

The Blues took an absolute battering in the last few months of Jose Mourinho's tenure, losing game after game before the Portuguese boss was eventually sacked. After so many years of silverware and success, this campaign has certainly been a bruising one for the support.

Not as bruising as it's been for the players, however.

In one sense, we mean that metaphorically; there's no doubt that Chelsea's star men have suffered some heavy blows to their egos over the last few months. However, the season has also been bruising in a literal sense. Though Diego Costa is the latest player forced into wearing a face mask at The Bridge, Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta and Nemanja Matic have also been spotted in protective headgear this season.

In fact, after Diego suffered a broken nose in training a couple of days ago, The Blues have now produced a full XI of players in face masks. In the words of Hiddink: "We are a team with a lot of masks... we are a Zorro team!" It's hard to disagree when you look at this lot.

GK: Petr Cech

(Image: Getty)

Surely the only man to pull off the protective helmet/protective face mask combo.

RB: Paulo Ferreira

(Image: Ian Walton/Getty)

Paulo Ferreira: by day, Chelsea defender, by night - gentleman thief!

CB: John Terry

(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty)

See-through face masks were, like, so mid-noughties.

CB: Gary Cahill

(Image: Tony Marshall/Getty)

Got his nose splooged open in pre-season.

Does that excuse his poor form for the first six months of the season? No, no it does not.

LB: Cesar Azpilicueta

(Image: Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley)

Cesar suffered a double fracture to his cheekbone after getting his face banjaxed by Crystal Palace's Frazier Campbell just after the New Year.

DM: Nemanja Matic

(Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

This one was truly terrifying. Nemanja looked like a disfigured supervillain.

CM: Cesc Fabregas

(Image: Action Images)

Donned a mask after getting tonked in the schnoz by Charlie Adam (who else?) last April. Ouchy.

CM: Ramires

(Image: Clive Rose/Getty)

*The Phantom of the Operaaaaa*

LW: Fernando Torres

(Image: Scott Heavey/Getty)

Contrary to rumours, Torres could actually see through the eye holes.

CF: Diego Costa

(Image: Getty)

Accidentally smashed his nose into the back of a youth player's head.

Classic Costa.

RW: Demba Ba

Cue hundreds of "Ba-hind the mask" puns.

So there we have it. Here's the full side:

Chelsea players just love a protective mask.

You all look very dashing, really, gents. Very dashing indeed.