3 Chelsea players who shined in imperative victory over Villa
3. Jelena Cankovic
She does not get many opportunities, but when she gets them, she makes the best of it and then some. Other than maybe Reiten, Jelena Cankovic was by far the Blues best player on Sunday evening. Due to the depth in the midfield, the Serbian does not always receive the playing time she deserves. For just the second time in 2023, Cankovic played all 90 minutes in a league match in the midfield.
As an attacking midfielder playing in that No. 10 role, the Serbian pulled all the right strings with her exceptional passing range and vision. In 90 minutes, Cankovic completed nearly 88 percent of her passes including finishing with the highest progressive pass total on the team with an astounding nine. Defensively, she was sound, interrupting Villa’s run of play plenty of times before any sort of momentum was generated. With relentless attitude on and off the ball combined with her ability to see the play before it happens make her a difference maker at that No. 10.
Her awareness on the ball, and ability to pick out passes across the pitch changed the game for the away side. To have someone that can start a game after not being in the team for a while and perform like this is a luxury Hayes is grateful she has. The Serbian looked ready to go from the opening whistle, having not participated a single minute in the Champions League win over Sonia Bompastor’s side on Thursday night.
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Cankovic is a player with sky high potential, and in her first season, she is already making herself known as one of the best summer signings of the offseason. Whenever you see the Serbian in the starting XI, it is a treat. It does not occur often, but with a goal and an assist on top of the impact she made in the middle of the park, it is clear, Cankovic has the quality to turn the game in favor of the west London side at any time.