Chelsea’s first semi-final in seven years ended 1-1 on the night in Madrid. If you had asked me prior to kick off if I would have taken that result, I would be mad to say no. A draw and a crucial away goal? Hell yeah! But that wonderful performance from Chelsea definitely deserved more than that.
That being said, Chelsea extended their unbeaten run against Real Madrid in UEFA competitions to four games, not that that is very relevant, but it makes me optimistic that Thomas Tuchel’s men will come away with a result in the second leg. Speaking of Tuchel, if we were rating managers today, he would get an easy 10/10 from me. His tactical preparation and the way he set up the team was perfect. Not only that, but he also made the right substitutions as well, with all three players having a positive impact on the game. Let’s take a look at how his troops performed on an individual level.
Edouard Mendy (Goalkeeper): 6.5/10
Edouard Mendy went into the game as the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the Champions League (seven). He will be disappointed that the only shot Real Madrid had on target was the one Chelsea conceded from. He did not have much to do in the game as Zinedine Zidane’s side registered the fewest shots in a Champions League semi-final since 2003, but Mendy was good on the ball, knowing when to play out of the back and when to play a long ball.
Andreas Christensen (Right Centerback): 7/10
Playing in the right centerback role usually occupied by club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen was tasked with dealing with Vinicius Junior and his lightning pace. The Dane did so with ease and put in yet another great performance. He made three interceptions and clearances each which capped off another good night for the Chelsea academy graduate, proving that he can perform on the biggest of stages.
Thiago Silva (Centerback): 7/10
The aging Brazilian did not look out of place for one second. His experience and composure on the ball were both extremely important in today’s performance. Silva played a very crucial role in Chelsea’s build up. He calming presence and 92.5% passing accuracy meant that Chelsea played through Real Madrid’s press with ease.
Antonio Rudiger (Left Centerback): 8/10
Antonio Rudiger certainly brought the “hustle” tonight. His perfectly weighted through pass to Christian Pulisic gave Chelsea an early lead and the crucial away goal. That gave him the confidence to look for the long pass over and over, completing six out of 10 long passes on the night. If only Timo Werner had his confidence.
Cesar Azpilicueta (Right Wingback): 6.5/10
The only Chelsea player left from that 2014 Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid, Cesar Azpilicueta was a guaranteed starter given his big game experience. Seeing him start at Right Wing-Back was a little surprising, but one can understand Tuchel’s decision to do so after testing it out against West Ham on the weekend. He did not have the best game, but certainly did not lack any heart or desire to give his best for his team and the manager.
Despite winning four duels, three tackles, and making two interceptions, one would have hoped he would get closer to Casemiro for the header which led to Real Madrid’s equalizer.
N’Golo Kante (Midfielder): 9/10
Man of the Match on the big European stage once again, N’Golo Kante was at his very best. Completing more dribbles (six) than the entire Real Madrid team combined (five), Kante was threading through Madrid’s midfield with ease. Kante has just about every skill and attribute in his locker. It is just a shame that end product is not one of them. If Kante had any amount of end product to his game, he would win the Ballon D’Or every single year without a doubt. Another tremendous performance from him.
Jorginho (Midfielder): 8/10
For all the talk about Kante’s running and people claiming he was everywhere, Jorginho covered more distance than any other player in the game (11.21 km). He controlled the tempo and the midfield very well throughout the game and contributed defensively as well. Another good performance from the Italian maestro and credit where credit is due.
Ben Chilwell (Left Wing-Back): 7/10
Ben Chilwell has been reaching good levels recently. He has quickly adapted to his new role as a wing-back and has made that spot his own. His two chances created were good, but considering some of the positions he found himself in, you would expect a player in his form and of his quality to do better.
Mason Mount (Attacking Midfielder): 8/10
Mason Mount was making his 100th appearance for Chelsea, a feat that took him just under two seasons to accomplish. That in itself should tell you everything you need to know about Mount’s importance to this team. Mount’s performance proved that he belongs on the very biggest stage of world football. He completed 96% of his passes, with a 97.4% pass completion in the opponent’s half. As always, he also contributed defensively, winning five duels and two tackles. However, he will be disappointed with some of his set-piece delivery.
Timo Werner (Striker): 5/10
Having ended his long goal drought against West Ham on the weekend, Timo Werner would have hoped to build on that, but found himself feeling worse than before. Chelsea fans are used to seeing Werner miss big chances by now. He has missed 21 big chances this season, but none as important as the one in the first half of the game. If Chelsea fails to qualify for the Champions League final because of that miss, it is hard to see any Blues fan forgiving Werner anytime soon. This is the semi-final of the Champions League, and you would expect a goalkeeper to put that chance away – that is how easy it was.
Christian Pulisic (Attacking Midfielder): 9/10
Had he not been taken off on the hour mark, Christian Pulisic would have been my choice for the Man of the Match award. The 22-year-old became the youngest Chelsea player and first American to score a goal in the Champions League semi-final, and what a well-taken goal it was! Legend has it that Eden Hazard has posters of Pulisic in his bedroom. His three chances created, 13 duels won, and five dribbles completed in a big game were reminiscent of the Belgian’s performances for Chelsea.
SUBSTITUTES
Kai Havertz (Striker): 7/10
Kai Havertz replaced Werner, and to be honest, there was very little he needed to do to put in a better shift than his fellow German compatriot. In his short cameo, he won four out of six duels, and completed 87% of his passes. His composure on the ball and movement off it is what Chelsea missed from their frontman.
Hakim Ziyech (Attacking Midfielder): 8/10
Hakim Ziyech was the pick of the bunch among the substitutes. He had an instant impact on the game and could very easily have ended up with an assist to his name had Havertz made his way into the box quicker to reach his defense splitting cross minutes after coming on.
Reece James (Right Wingback): N/A
It was good to see Reece James replace Azpilicueta on the right flank and make an appearance in a Champions League semi-final. However, he did not have a real impact on the game, but stuck to his defensive duties very well.
How would you rate the players in this one? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!