Chelsea player ratings at Southampton: Spoils are shared

Southampton's English striker Danny Ings (L) vies with Chelsea's German defender Antonio Rudiger during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on February 20, 2021. (Photo by NEIL HALL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NEIL HALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Southampton’s Malian midfielder Moussa Djenepo (L) vies with Chelsea’s French midfielder N’Golo Kante during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on February 20, 2021. (Photo by NEIL HALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Reece James (Right wingback): 6.5/10

Reece James returned to the right wingback position at the expense of Callum Hudson-Odoi and did an OK job trying to play off Mason Mount and put balls in the box. He had a chance with a couple minutes to go and blasted it over the net and into the stands, an opportunity that he would have wished he finished, which surely should have seen the Blues take three points.

Mateo Kovacic (Central midfielder): 6/10

Mateo Kovacic had a new partner in the midfield today in N’Golo Kante, which gave him more attacking freedom and chances to create. Sadly, he couldn’t drive the ball forward as Southampton would tackle him before he couldn’t do anything more.

N’Golo Kante (Central midfielder): 7/10

Kante’s energy throughout the game—especially in the first half—really drove the team forward. He retrieved the ball with good tackles, his movement was great and his passes rarely went wrong. I hope he gets a chance to play more from the start as his energy allows his partner beside him to have more attacking freedom, which can only help Chelsea break opposing teams down, especially during this stretch.

Marcos Alonso (Left wingback): 5/10

I thought Marcos Alonso was the worst of the two wing backs and Tuchel clearly thought the same as he was yelling at him from the touchline for majority of first half. Bad deliveries, missed chances and defensive errors were the theme for Alonso, but somehow, the Spaniard got 90 minutes because of his attacking threat and the fact that a goal was needed toward the end.

Jorginho (Central midfielder): N/A

Jorginho was subbed on for Kovacic with 15 minutes to go and didn’t do anything to really deserve a rating—good or bad.

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