Chelsea player ratings: Superb performance from superb players
Chelsea may have started roughly, but the settled and eventually blasted Krasnodar away. How did each player do on the Russian pitch?
Chelsea sit atop the Champions League Group E comfortably after a more than convincing victory against new comers FC Krasnodar. A match that started slowly but soon picked up when Chelsea got their first goal. A balanced performance by the Blue army from Stamford Bridge. How did the boys perform individually?
GK, Edouard Mendy, 8.5
Mendy saved all the shots he faced, earning Chelsea their second clean sheet of the campaign. He not only made saves, but was constantly coming out to claim crosses and clear loose balls. His command of his area and communication with his defense, especially on set pieces, did not go unnoticed. Even if you argue that all Mendy has done is make basic saves, it is still outrageously impressive that he has kept four clean sheets in five appearances since his arrival, behind three different centerback partnerships, conceding only one goal in five games.
RB, Cesar Azpilicueta, 8
Azpilicueta did everything that you could have asked of him. He was superb defensively, as well as putting the effort in the final third. According to SofaScore, the captain made four clearances, four tackles, one interception and won two aerial duels (he’s 5’10”). Azpilicueta also boasted a passing accuracy of 90 percent, which for a full back is very impressive, because full backs loose the ball the most in a back line. The Spaniard completed three out of his four attempted long balls, making passes that were needed when they needed.
RCB, Kurt Zouma, 8.5
Zouma showed again why he’s the best centerback in blue. Zouma was dominant on the ground and in the air against his Russian counterparts. For someone who has a false reputation of being “awkward” on the ball, he completed 92 percent of his passes on the night, making 110 passes altogether. Though he only completed one long ball, he won four for four of his attempted aerials. He was also very busy on the ground, making seven clearances (most for the team), blocking three shots and making one interception. Zouma was superb.
LCB, Antonio Rudiger, 7
Rudiger was not a talking point after that game. This is a good thing. Rudiger did enough. He did have a 97 percent pass completion, completing 93 passes and no long balls. He made two clearances. He didn’t dazzle, and for someone who has played very little club football this season, he played OK. He was a functional cog in the system.
LB, Ben Chilwell, 4
The English left back had a game he’d rather forget. He completed only one aerial duel out of five, made one clearance and had an 80 percent passing accuracy. He lost the ball a lot and did not complete any of his attempted crosses. He did complete five out of seven long balls, but he was dribbled past once and made an error leading to a shot. This is unlike Chilwell, and before the “I was right!! he’s not Chelsea material!!” shouts, it is important to note that Chilwell has started and played most of the last five games, and is in need of a rest. A tired fullback cannot produce the same work rate as a fully energized one.