Chelsea player ratings in Round of 16 qualifying win at Rennes
Chelsea squeaked out a stoppage time win against Rennes to advance from the group, but how did the Blues perform on an individual level?
The Blues have qualified for the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League with two games still to be played. Chelsea put up a shaky performance in a 2-1 win against Champions League debutants, Rennes. The Blues’ performance got worse after the goal they scored as they found it difficult to handle the pressure Rennes’ players kept applying. A win is a win though, so here’s how the players faired:
Edouard Mendy (Goalkeeper): 7.5
Mendy was alert as usual, claiming crosses and making saves when called upon. He made two saves in the first half to keep Chelsea ahead. The confidence he instills in the back line is evident. He was unfortunate to concede a goal from a free header, but made four saves overall to preserve the victory. His record is now three goals in 10 games—that’s still ridiculous.
Cesar Azpilicueta (Right back): 7.5
Azpilicueta showed why he’s captain against Rennes by tracking players and making tackles. He got a head to the dangerous free kick to steer it out for a corner toward the end of the first half and deny the hosts an opener. Chelsea—and by extension, the defense—was under pressure in the second half, but Azpilicueta remained solid. He undoubtedly played a very important role in the win.
Thiago Silva (Centerback): 8
Silva showed his game intelligence by making four interceptions in the first half, more than any other player on the pitch. He made six interceptions in the match altogether, which is a ridiculous number for a centerback. Silva also racked up six clearances and blocked one shot on the night. He was enjoyable to watch, although he did miss a header en route to the only Rennes goal of the tie. Unfortunately, as previously noted, it was really a free header as no one was picking up Sehrou Guirassy.
Kurt Zouma (Centerback): 7
Zouma was composed throughout the game. The Frenchman controlled the tempo and distributed the ball beautifully, making four needed clearances in the first half. He alleviated the Blues from immediate pressure throughout the first 45′, but didn’t really do much in the second half. Zouma ended the match with the four clearances and one blocked shot. He did play his part in the Chelsea win though, making eight recoveries, on par with Silva.
Ben Chilwell (Left back): 5.5
Chilwell was solid defensively, but his passing was a bit off. He completed none of his attempted long balls in the first half (0/4) and made a careless back pass that could have resulted in a goal on any other day. He completed none of his five crosses and only one out of nine attempted long balls. Chilwell did create one big chance though, making up for some of his mishaps. Ultimately, Chilwell didn’t have a great game, but he wasn’t awful either.