Chelsea ratings as matchwinner Willian gets 8, but misfiring Alvaro Morata just a 3

Matt Jones - Editor 23:10 20/09/2018
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  • Chelsea are much more used to sitting at Europe’s top table as opposed to dining with the likes of PAOK – and they looked as if they didn’t really have an appetite in Greece as they laboured to an opening 1-0 Europa League victory.

    Willian was their matchwinner in Thessaloniki but the scoreline could have been much greater had the Blues not been so woeful in the final third of the pitch.

    It looked as if Maurizio Sarri’s side would saunter to victory when Willian just about beat Alexandros Paschalakis in the PAOK goal after only seven minutes.

    But a catalogue of poor finishing as well as a lack of ideas in attack contributed to a poor spectacle thereafter.

    Here we rate the Chelsea players.

    CHELSEA (4-3-3)

    Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6: Largely untroubled but as his side failed to kill the game off and PAOK discovered confidence, he came under pressure. Flapped badly at one cross.

    Davide Zappacosta – 6: Bombed forward to try and support and supply his attackers, firing in five crosses, although none reached their target.

    Antonio Rudiger – 7: A bright night. Utterly dominant in the air, winning five aerial tussles. His 113 touches were the most of any player in yellow.

    Andreas Christensen – 6: Four tackles led Chelsea and made two interceptions, while he also tried to affect the game at the other end of the pitch, getting a shot off and winning a foul.

    Marcos Alonso – 5: One of the marauding full-back’s quieter nights as he struggled deploy his usual ferocious attacking game from full-back. Replaced by Azpilicueta.

    N’Golo Kante – 6: Passing was exemplary and made one interception. But the bustling midfielder’s usual energy seemed lacking as the hosts grew into the game.

    Jorginho – 4: Kept the ball well, as his 89.8 pass success rate attests, but hardly made any mark on the game, barely recording any other stats.

    Ross Barkley – 8: Ran powerfully at the home defence and slipped a precision ball through to Willian to get his side going. Five key passes and his brilliant 95.7 per cent pass success rate led the Blues.

    Pedro – 6: Sniped and snaked his way across the pitch, with the hosts struggling to get a hold of him. Disappointingly shot straight at the keeper when in on goal and horrible touch late on prevented it being 2-0.

    Alvaro Morata – 3: Would have banked on him burying that header. But confidence has deserted him. Later missed another, though his touch to control was sublime, his finish always difficult. When he finally scored, he was offside. Seven shots – none on target.

    Willian – 8: Posed problems all night for the Greeks, and broke them down with an early goal, although it was far from crisp. Balooned over when well placed to make it 2-0. Six key passes led his side.

    SUBS:

    Cesar Azpilicueta – 6: Kept things neat and tidy when introduced but didn’t pull up any trees.

    Cesc Fabregas – 6: Instantly added a shred of dynamism in replacing Jorginho.

    Olivier Giroud – 6: Almost outshone Morata when he came on late and forced a fine stop from Paschalakis.

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