Chelsea was very good last night as they welcomed AFC Wimbledon to Stamford Bridge for their EFL Cup second-round tie. Chelsea took 23 shots, keeping nine on target and only scoring two. The game was, for anyone watching, comfortable for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, but it also showed why Wimbledon is in the fourth tier of English football.
On many occasions, Wimbledon had a chance to hurt the Blues, but unexplainable decision-making cost them. The west London side was not as comfortable as the scoreline and underlying statistics would suggest. It was a good showing from the boys, and this is how the Pride of London rates them individually:
Chelsea player ratings vs Wimbeldon
Robert Sanchez: 6/10
Sanchez was OK, as his passing was quite good, but he made some mistakes that ultimately meant Chelsea did not leave with a clean sheet. He mistimed the flight of a free kick and ended up punching a Wimbledon player along with the ball, conceding a penalty.
Bashir Humphreys: 6/10
Humphreys did well, but made no case to get a start in a more high-profile game. He completed more than 100 passes on the night, which speaks to how dominant the home side was. He only completed 1/4 long balls he attempted though, and lost possession 11 times, which is high for a defender that attempted only 4 long passes. He won 3/6 duels on the night, which was enough to get the win.
Axel Disasi: 9/10
Disasi was superb, because despite winning 0/2 ground duels, he won 10/14 aerials duels, completed 94% of his 110 passes, and made three crucial blocks, according to Sofascore. He played all 90 minutes and it was good he did, because Chelsea may well have conceded a second goal had it not been for his excellent decision-making and positioning.
Levi Colwill: 6/10
Colwill also did well, mostly. He was a bit careless with his passing and it put the team under more pressure than was needed. He completed 33% of his long passes on the night (2/6), and like Humphreys, lost the ball 11 times. He was imperious in the air though, winning 8/9 aerial duels.
Marc Cucurella: 8/10
Cucurella was fantastic against Wimbledon, granted it’s Wimbledon. He won the only tackle he contested, completed 95% of his passes, and created four chances, including a clear-cut chance. He also won all his duels except one, winning 4/5 duels on the night. That Cucurella lost possession fewer times than Colwill, underpins how careless Colwill was on the ball.
Conor Gallagher: 9/10
Gallager wore the armband for the Blues against Wimbledon, and like the commentator said “He treated it like it was a Champions League final”, which was an apt description indeed. Gallagher completed 96% of his passes, took four shots, and completed all five dribbles he attempted. More impressively, he won 10/11 ground duels he contested and 11/13 duels he contested in total. He was everywhere, winning the ball back and supporting his teammates in attack wherever they wanted.
Lesley Ugochukwu: 7/10
Ugochukwu looked composed in midfield, dictating the tempo, winning the ball back, and snuffing out counterattacks. He won 2/2 tackles, 2/4 ground duels, and completed 6/7 long balls he attempted. His long passing ratio was comfortably the best on the pitch, considering the volume. Unfortunately, he got caught in possession in midfield which led to a counter that resulted in a free kick, which led to the penalty Chelsea conceded.
Noni Madueke: 9/10
He won and scored the penalty that pulled Chelsea level, his dribbling was spot on once again, and his trickery helped win many fouls. He won three fouls while he was on the pitch, completed 6/8 take-ons, and took six shots. He also won 9/11 ground duels. Wimbledon couldn’t deal with Madueke when he was on the pitch, and Pochettino’s men took full advantage of it.
Ian Maatsen: 7/10
Once again Maatsen was deployed in a non-left back/left wingback role. He did fine on the night though, taking five shots and making two interceptions, but only winning 1/2 attempted tackles. Unfortunately, he won just 2/10 ground duels he attempted.
Diego Moreira: 5/10
He was poor, which doesn’t bode well for him considering the opponent. The youngster completed 1/6 crosses, completed 0/1 take-on, won 1/4 duels, and lost possession 17 times while creating just one chance. He was comfortably one of the worst performers on the night for Chelsea, perhaps unsurprisingly. His corner kicks were abysmal too.
Mason Burstow: 5/10
In 65 minutes on the pitch, Burstow had nothing to show for it. He took one shot – which was blocked – and won 1/3 duels he contested.
Substitutes
Nicolas Jackson: 7.5/10
Jackson easily offered far more than Burstow in his 45 minutes on the pitch, to no one’s surprise. He took one shot on target, won 2/4 ground duels, completed 2/3 dribbles and created a clear-cut chance. He, again, was almost always everywhere but in the center forward position.
Malo Gusto: 6
Gusto didn’t do much in the 25 minutes he was on the pitch. He completed 25 passes and the only long ball he attempted. He also won 1/2 ground duels and the only tackle he went in for. He combined well with the central midfielders and wingers down the right side, but nothing much happened on his flank for the majority of his time on the pitch.
Enzo Fernandez: 8.5/10
Fernandez had a big impact when he came on. He created two chances and completed 2/5 crosses, as well as 3/3 long balls. He won all the duels he contested (2), and took three shots on target, more than anyone else on the pitch. He made three defensive actions and pounced on an error by Wimbledon goalkeeper Alex Bass to ultimately send Chelsea into the third round of the FA Cup.
Moises Caicedo: N/A
Caicedo came on for nine minutes and made sure that he didn’t lose the ball, attempting zero long balls and completing 100% of his 21 attempted passes.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO: 9/10
Pochettino recognized the occasion for what it was and perfectly balanced the need to give out opportunities to young players with the need to win the game. He did well to start Humphreys, Maatsen, Ugochukwu, Morreira and Burstow, handing out four full debuts in one fell swoop.
He managed them well too, hooking off Burstow at half time when he was offering nothing, and leaving on those who were playing well. He brought on Fernandez when he needed impact, knowing the Blues No. 8 was the perfect person to give the game exactly what it needed.