Chelsea ratings: Rudiger, Kante and Hazard lead Blues’ best performance

Pedro, Right wing: 6.5

Pedro was the most disconnected of Chelsea’s forwards. This may be because so much came through Eden Hazard sliding over to the left, or because Emerson gave the extra offensive impetus to the left side compared to Cesar Azpilicueta on the right. He had just over half as many touches as Willian and only one-third as many as Eden Hazard. Pedro had a perfect opportunity to shoot in the box in the first half, but went for one pass too many and Manchester City cleared the danger. An unusually meek showing.

Eden Hazard, Centre-forward: 8.5

Eden Hazard used the centre of the front line as his base, rather than his excuse, and led Chelsea’s offence in every aspect of the game. He dropped deep to pick up the ball, moved out to the left to start his runs at City’s defenders and gave the Blues their best chances at scoring. Manchester City were in full tactical foul mode, and Hazard absorbed six – some tactical, some simple desperation.

Hazard became the latest victim of England’s baby steps to implement VAR. Hazard took a pass and was running clear on Ederson from 40 yards. He was in the exact scenario in which linesmen around the world are instructed to keep the flags down, let the play finish and, if the ball goes into the net, VAR will make the final call. Instead, the linesman brandished his flag – perhaps in response to City’s protestations – and the play came to a halt. Hazard should have had the opportunity to carry on the play, and City should have had to face a reckoning over how their defenders gave up on the play once they thought he was offsides. It would have been absolutely wonderful if City stopped to whine, giving Hazard a free run at Ederson.

The only downside to Hazard’s performance was how well it showed that his struggles at centre-forward / false nine are of his own doing, rather than a function of the position or tactics. Hazard took over the game and was as his best, as many of us know he can do from any position or assignment on the pitch. This shows that his earlier bouts of sluggish in the role – under Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri – were on him, not his coaches.

Willian, Left wing: 7

Willian would have been at least a half point higher if not for his delivery on set pieces. He routinely set free kicks and corner kicks into the first man, into the wall, into empty space or straight to Manchester City. For a player who is remembered so fondly for his set piece prowess in 2015/16, he should be off dead-ball duty. Oh wait, that would mean David Luiz would take more.

Aside from those situations, though, Willian was a good support to Eden Hazard. As is often the case, he still does not clear out of the way when Hazard comes to his side, whether they are in a left-centre pairing or a left-right pairing. Regardless, Willian repaid his coach’s trust on the day.