Chelsea ratings: Antonio Rudiger does what the forwards apparently can’t
By George Perry
Jorginho, Midfielder: 6.5
Jorginho had a Mateo Kovacic-ian bit of skill in the first half to recover the ball, turn out of a tight space surrounded by Leicester players and emerge into the open field to bring the ball up field. Beyond that, he did not have many notable moments or significant impacts on the game, which reinforces the idea that Jorginho is at his best when he is not ordered or trying to do too much at all times.
N’Golo Kante, Midfielder: 6
Perhaps even after all these years Leicester City still know N’Golo Kante too well. Kante was unusually wasteful in the final third, not contributing much to the offence’s chance creation and giving the ball away easily from his feet or passing.
But if Leicester City know him too well, they also know that he is unstoppable in the defensive side of the game. Despite his shortcomings going forward, Kante led Chelsea in defensive actions and was his usual self tackling, intercepting and recovering the ball. This certainly made Jorginho’s day easier, and spoke once more to the idea that just because Kante can play further forward doesn’t mean it’s in his or the team’s best interest for him to do so.
Mason Mount, Midfielder: 6.5
Like Reece James, a lot of what Mason Mount did cancelled out the rest of it. For every deft turn to send Chelsea into the attack there was a wayward pass that brought play the other way. For every smart run between the lines, there was a chance he couldn’t finish or even bring to the point where we could talk about whether or not he could finish.
Obviously, Mount had two nearly identical assists to set up the Chelsea goals, and his set piece play – passing more than shooting – was something Chelsea desperately needed as they continue to struggle from open play. Having players like Mount and Rudiger step up – in Rudiger’s place, out of nowhere – to score goals from different aspects of the game is a key component for any successful team. Chelsea need goals wherever they can get them. On Saturday, it was Mount to Rudiger.