Chelsea ratings: Hudson-Odoi displays what (almost) everybody already knew

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Right wing: 9

After this game, any further refusal by Maurizio Sarri or any other coach to keep Callum Hudson-Odoi in the rotation for the starting XI should be a sackable offence in and of itself. Hudson-Odoi’s intelligence when he receives the ball and starts a dribble, his creativity and persistence to get out of tight spots (at one point he and the ball emerged from four Malmo players along the touchline) and his direct approach to goal are everything Chelsea need from their non-Eden Hazard winger.

Hudson-Odoi’s goal was a perfect example of what he intrinsically provides and a comparison to what Willian lacks. Hudson-Odoi took a shot from a tight angle, the sort of position Willian often dribbles himself into before losing the ball or turning around and ending the momentum. Hudson-Odoi simply went for goal, knowing that even if he did not score he would put a dangerous ball into the penalty area for Olivier Giroud or N’Golo Kante to pounce on.

Hudson-Odoi was Chelsea’s best player for the entire 90 minutes. He did not have enough of the ball in the first half, as the Blues sent most of their attack down the left, but when he did he made better use of it than anyone else. The overall flow of play pulled him in more in the second half, letting him amass nine dribbles and at least as many highlight moments en route to the goal.

The Blues have three months to convince him to stay.

Olivier Giroud, Striker: 6.5

You may never see a more mundane Olivier Giroud goal than his close-range punch in against Malmo. No acrobatics, no twists, no backheels, no scorpions – simple the inside of his right boot while running forward toward the goal.

Giroud and Willian were frequent victims of the shoddy officiating, leaving Giroud often frustrated and incredulous on the turf.

Willian, Left wing: 7

Willian’s first half was one of his best halves of football in some time. Overall, this was one of his better performances. His step-overs were unusually brisk, he moved more purposefully on the ball and linked up well with Emerson. His main positional shortcoming was drifting over to the right side, where he congested play with Hudson-Odoi and N’Golo Kante, while leaving an empty patch on the left with only Ross Barkley to fill it.

Since Willian and Hudson-Odoi both went the full 90, neither will start against Manchester City. That is an anticipated travesty in Hudson-Odoi’s case, but is somewhat surprising given for Willian given how much Sarri relies on him.

*If you find a more back-handed, damn-with-faint-praise comment than that, let us know in the comments amongst your usual hate mail.