Chelsea player ratings: Ethan Ampadu outplayed both sides in narrow win
By George Perry
Chelsea only played one youth player against a Bournemouth side that made seven changes from their most recent Premier League XI. Ethan Ampadu was the Blues’ man of the match in a game that was messier, tighter and more worrisome than it should have been.
If Andreas Christensen is the next John Terry, what does that make Ethan Ampadu? Ampadu made his second appearance in Chelsea’s starting XI against Bournemouth, and put in a performance his teammates should be envious of. Ampadu’s future – his position, his career path, his place at Chelsea – will be the subject of much debate, but his showing in the Carabao Cup is beyond dispute.
The rest of the Blues, though, have little to brag about. They advanced to meet Arsenal in the semi-finals next month, but did not do anything to build Chelsea’s confidence for any of their competitions.
Goalkeeper and defence
7. Caballero was more of a ball-player and a ball-watcher than a ball-stopper for the first half. Chelsea kept Bournemouth out of shooting range, and even as Bournemouth flipped the switch in the first 15 minutes of the second half they did not produce many quality chances. Caballero had a busy final 20 minutes, though, making a few keys saves to delay what had become inevitable. There was little he could do about Bournemouth’s goal, other than wonder what happened to the team in front of him.<br />. 1. Argentina. WILLY CABALLERO
ANTONIO RUDIGER. 7. Antonio Rudiger had one of his best performances as a Blue, zipping in all directions around Chelsea’s defence to mark the ball or cover his teammates. His quickness was especially important in the second half when Chelsea’s midfielders let Bournemouth back into the game.<br />. 2. Germany
ETHAN AMPADU. 9.5. Ethan Ampadu’s night opened inauspiciously. He received a yellow card less than two minutes into the game for a foul that resulted in Jermaine Defoe suffering his second injustice of the week: first not being name Sports Personality of the Year, and now having to come off in the 17′. Ampadu put that behind him and barely did anything wrong the remainder of the game. He was calm and assured in the centre of the defence, almost to Andreas Christensen levels, never rushing a clearance or mis-timing a tackle. He was everywhere he needed to be to shut down Bournemouth’s attack, ending the game with two tackles, two interceptions, seven clearances and two blocked shots. He even matched Cesc Fabregas with five completed long balls. Chelsea’s January transfer window will be very interesting – Ampadu proved he is ready for a top tier loan, but Antonio Conte may want him around if David Luiz is unavailable or sold.<br />. 44. Wales
7. Gary Cahill took his turn bouncing between the ridiculous and the sublime. For every time he marshalled Chelsea’s defence into the appropriate shape or manfully cleared the ball out of danger, there was a corresponding blooper. Such as when he just fell over himself early in the first half or his rising curling 30-yard volley. He played well alongside Ethan Ampadu, knowing when to cover his junior partner but also being saved by Ampadu a few times as well.. 24. England. GARY CAHILL