A lot has changed around Chelsea since last season, and FIFA ratings are no different. Let’s look at how the forwards turn up in FIFA 20.
With all the beautiful football Chelsea played last season you’d expect some significant increases in the forwards’ FIFA ratings. Having spent some time with FIFA 20, it’s obvious that like so much else about last season: meh.
Olivier Giroud: FIFA 19 rating: 82 / FIFA 20 rating: 82
The Frenchman has never been the most mobile of forwards, and that will again put off most players in FIFA 20. His rating remains unchanged since FIFA 18, even though he is starting to see his game time gradually reduce. He could still do a job as a decent target man, someone to bounce the ball off.
In Career Mode, might as well replace him with a younger option before he starts declining. Sadly, this might be the last FIFA in which Giroud stays above 80 in his overall rating.
Willian: 84 / 82
It was predicted right here that Willian would end up as an 82 rated player by the end of the previous season, and so it has come to pass. A drop in pace from 88 to 85 and a lower stamina are mostly to blame. Still, he is one of the fastest players at Chelsea and is also reasonably priced in Ultimate Team.
He absolutely needs to be a part of your squad in Career Mode when you’re just starting out. If he carries on playing like he is for Chelsea, he could maintain his 82 rating into next season.
Pedro: 82 / 82
Nothing has really changed for Pedro in real life or in the game. He is still an occasional starter at Chelsea, a decent substitute and a hugely experienced professional. His rating remains the same as last season, albeit with a slightly lower pace.
He is a budget option for your Ultimate Team at best, or if you need a Spanish player for your chemistry links.
Not very useful, sadly, since he won’t last the entire game with 70 stamina.
Christian Pulisic: 79 / 79
Pace, pace and more pace. He may be only 79 overall in FIFA, but his pace and dribbling make him a potent weapon in any side. Speaking of sides, he used to be a right-sided midfielder in FIFA 19, but he is a left-sided winger in FIFA 20.
There hasn’t been any increase in his rating since the last edition, and if he doesn’t play himself into contention at Chelsea he might be looking at a downgrade in FIFA 21. Still, good player for the here and now.
Michy Batshuayi: 81 / 79
The fall of Michy Batshuayi’s FIFA rating continues in the latest edition. A fall from 81 to 79 is not something you want to see in a relatively young player, especially when he was at 80 in FIFA 18. In this game, his stamina has further reduced to 65 along with his shooting stats.
Just like Ross Barkley, this is a player who doesn’t have any standout attributes. And with the way things are going, he’ll probably end up at 77 and on loan at a midtable Italian club next season.
Tammy Abraham: 74 / 76
This is a player on the rise. From a 74 rated silver card in the Championship to a 76 rated gold plus an 81 rated In-Form card at Chelsea. That is quite a trajectory for young Tammy Abraham.
At this rate he’ll get at least one more In-Form card and a permanent winter upgrade to 81. Easily the best Chelsea striker in Career Mode, if you do it right.
Callum Hudson-Odoi: 68 / 74
It’s another giant leap for Callum Hudson-Odoi, who goes from being a 68 rated left-sided winger to a 74 rated right-sided winger. His pace and dribbling are still his best attributes. He and Pulisic on either wing should have plenty of speed to terrorize most defenders.
Now that he is back from injury, he should easily get an upgrade to 77 in winter and could even reach 79 in FIFA 21. One of the few Chelsea players equally useful in Career Mode and Ultimate Team.