Playing Manchester City already for the third time this season, Chelsea visited the Etihad for the FA Cup Third Round facing somewhat of an impossible task of progressing to the next round. And the task did turn out to be impossible as the home side embarrassed the Blues 4-0.
Throughout the first half, the visitors couldn’t even register an attempt on goal and were poor in every aspect of the game. Riyad Mahrez opened the scoring for Man City with an exquisite free kick in the 23rd minute. And just seven minutes later City doubled their lead as Kai Havertz conceded a penalty while defending a corner which was confirmed by VAR and converted by Julian Alvarez. Not long after that the home side tripled their lead through a great team goal which was finished by Phil Foden in the 38th minute to all but confirm Chelsea’s exit from the competition.
In the second half, CFC did gradually improve as the substitutions came on and brought in some much needed physicality in the midfield and pace up front with David Fofana given his Blues debut. But towards the end of the game, Koulibaly conceded the second penalty of the match after a pathetic tackle on Phil Foden. Mahrez converted the penalty to put an end to Chelsea’s misery.
Here is how each Chelsea player fared in another embarrassing outing against Manchester City:
1. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Goalkeeper): 5/10
Throughout the game there was not much Kepa could have done when his fellow defenders are so poor. None of the goals conceded were from his mistake or there was nothing he could have even done better. Just one of those days.
2. Lewis Hall (Left Back): 6/10
One of the very few bright lights from todays game was another solid performance from Lewis Hall. It can be said that the youngster should still improve defensively but even after that, Hall was still one of the best defenders on the pitch.
3. Bashir Humphreys (Centerback): 6/10
The best Chelsea defender on the pitch was the Bashir Humphreys who was lets remind ourselves was making his debut. The youngster was leagues clear of his partner Koulibaly and stuck to basics by passing well and defending solidly in the second half.
4. Kalidou Koulibaly (Centerback): 3/10
Being the senior figure in the backline, Koulibaly didn’t really help or guide Humphreys in any way. Poor man marking for the third goal and even conceded a penalty late on to give City the fourth goal. The signing of the Senegalese international seems very questionable now.
5. Trevoh Chalobah (Right Back): 6/10
Trevoh Chalobah finally got an outing in a Chelsea shirt and that too on the right side of the defence and despite the team conceding four goals, did decent enough to let Graham Potter know that he doesn’t only have Azpilicueta who can play there.
6. Jorginho (Central Midfielder): 3/10
Definitely the worst player on the pitch. Couldn’t really understand the inclusion of the Italian midfielder when players like Chukwuemeka impresses in the last outing. Giving away the ball regularly, trying to dribble in his own half and can’t defend at all. Jorginho was relaced by Azpilicueta in the 63rd minute.
7. Mason Mount (Central Midfielder): 5/10
Throughout the game is seemed as if Mason Mount didn’t exist, so was the domination and poor play from CFC. In the opening few minutes of the second half, Mount got Chelsea’s first shot off and that was pretty much all from him as he was replaced by Chukwuemeka in the 73rd minute.
8. Mateo Kovacic (Central Midfielder): 5/10
Just like every other Chelsea player, Kovacic was poor with his passing. The Coratian did well in terms of dribbling past a few players but overdid that too lost possession multiple times. Kovacic was replaced by Zakaria during half time.
9. Conor Gallagher (Left Winger): 5/10
Another frustrating outing from the England international as he couldn’t really influence the game and conceded unnecessary fould and kept losing the possession. Gallagher continues to not impress whenever given the chance.
10. Kai Havertz (Striker): 2/10
Conceded the most poorest penalty one could concede while defeding a corner. Throughout the first half, the German international was no where to be seen and when got the chance to progress the ball forward either got tackled or gave the ball away with a poor pass. Havertz was taken off for Fofana at half time.
11. Hakim Ziyech (Right Winger): 5/10
Throughout the game, Hakim Ziyech was probably one of the better players of Chelsea but again suffered the same issues of making that pass in the final third like the Moroccan international always does whenever playing in a Chelsea shirt. Ziyech was replaced by Hutchinson in the 63rd minute.
12. David Fofana (Striker): 5/10
David Fofana came on for Kai Havertz at half time to make first Blues appearance and looked decent enough holding up the ball and making runs in behind the Citizens’ defence. There was an instance when he could have been played in behind but neither of Hutchinson or Azpilicueta could spot his run and eventually the ball went out for a goal kick.
13. Denis Zakaria (Central Midfielder): 6/10
Denis Zakaria came on for Mateo Kovacic at half time and brought in some much needed physicality in the midfield to control the game. Did well to progress the game forward, something both Kovacic and Jorginho couldn’t do.
14. Cesar Azpilicueta (Right Wingback): 5/10
Cesar Azpilicueta came on for Jorginho in the 63rd minute and played as a wingback when Chelsea changed their formation. The Spainard was involved in some attacking play but didn’t really play the right passes at the right time.
15. Omari Hutchinson (Right Winger): 6/10
Omari Hutchinson came on for Hakim Ziyech in the 63rd minute and did bring some pace to the CFC attack and looked more involved in the game than Hakim Ziyech ever looked. Struggled a bit with his first touch and did take a tame effort on the goal.
16. Carney Chukwuemeka (Left Winger): 6/10
Carney Chukwuemeka came on for Mason Mount in the 73rd minute and the youngster should have probably should have started. After coming on you could clearly see that the starlet brings in some much needed energy in the midfield to progress the ball forward. Another impressive brief outing from Chukwuemeka.