Chelsea player ratings: Azpilicueta,Tomori kept the door open for Batshuayi

Michy Batshuayi did a very Michy Batshuayi thing by coming off the bench to score the winning goal. Chelsea’s defence kept Ajax off the scoreboard so the Belgian could be the hero.

Chelsea extended their win streak in all competitions to six games and won back-to-back Champions League away games for the first time since 2013. The Blues’ offence created a lot but missed the finishing touch until Michy Batshuayi came on, missed more egregiously than anyone else and then found the top of the net for a 1-0 win.

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Goalkeeper: 6.5

Kepa Arrizabalaga was saved as many times as he made saves. Ajax had one goal taken off the board because VAR spotted either a toe or a shoulder offsides, and Quincy Promes sent a near-post header off the far post as Arrizabalaga watched helplessly from between the posts.

Arrizabalaga only faced two shots on goal, which meant that much of his involvement was the result of Chelsea’s gratuitous habit of playing the ball back to their goalkeeper.

As we have said before, neither the centrebacks nor the goalkeeper are as skillful with the ball – passing and dribbling – as they apparently think they are. With every back pass and attempt to dance their way out of trouble, they invite needless pressure. For example, Arrizabalaga played a goal kick needlessly short in the 11′, which was followed by a back pass right back to him and then a wave of Ajax pressure. Why do they do this to themselves?

Cesar Azpilicueta, Right back: 9

In his 350th appearance in a Chelsea uniform, Cesar Azpilicueta showed why he will probably make his 400th appearance as a Blue later this season and why talk of Reece James’ near-immediate accession to the first team was absurdly premature, as we noted at the time.

Azpilicueta’s sliding recovery tackle in the first half almost certainly saved a goal and garnered the most praise. His reaction was just as notable: he pumped his fist and shouted to himself, the sort of emotion Chelsea have not seen from a defender because of his defending since John Terry. It was reminiscent of how Juventus’ great men at the back – Giorgio Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini – would get as pumped up by saves, tackles and blocks as their colleagues up the pitch would about scoring. It’s professional pride in their position, and it’s contagious amongst the squad. When blocking goals is just as good as scoring goals, you can win 1-0 away in the Champions League.

Azpilicueta was as sharp as ever going forward, with the exception of one ill-considered long-range shot. Other than that, he and Willian continued their run of strong combinations together; Azpilicueta looked to set up opportunities in the box; and he still managed to come from those positions to be the last man back on defence.

Kurt Zouma, Centreback: 7.5

Kurt Zouma may be just as intimidating when he is dribbling as when he is defending. He may not be light on his toes or deft on the ball, but his momentum – literally his mass times velocity – makes him nearly unstoppable without major risk to the opponent’s body.

Zouma’s dribbling up the centre and aggressive heading on set pieces show how much he is looking to contribute offensively. Chelsea’s starting centrebacks are historically good for about five goals each season. Fikayo Tomori has his one screamer already, so Zouma appears ready to get on the board.

Fikayo Tomori, Centreback: 8.5

Tomori needed the first 15 minutes or so to settle into the game, particularly when he was on the ball deep in his own zone. He tried too hard too often to play out from the back, pass the ball back to Kepa Arrizabalaga, spin and maneuver his way out of trouble, and this was all in the early part of the game when Ajax were fresh and pressing with their highest intensity.

Once he found his place in the evening, though, he continued his imperious run. He was the main reason Ajax had only two shots on target despite the majority of possession, and why most of their shots were from the corners of the box and not the central shooting lanes.

The only other issue Tomori and Zouma had was sometimes forgetting that they were playing Ajax away and not Newcastle at home when they pushed up to intercept a pass or keep the ball in high possession and did not quickly recover their position. For a prolonged stretch in the second half Jorginho was alongside Kurt Zouma as Tomori lingered up the field. Tomori can probably do some great things up there, but Jorginho cannot do too many great things as a faux centreback. If Tomori can be responsible with his runs, Chelsea will be much more solid in both directions.

Marcos Alonso, Left back: 7

Marcos Alonso won a few battles against Sergino Dest, which was of passing interest to us American viewers. But otherwise Alonso had a very standard, by the book day, which sometimes is exactly what the player and the team need.