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| 1. DIDIER DROGBA - FC | 7.8 |
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Minutes played24
Touches15
Passes7/12
Shots1*/2
Aerial duels5/5
Five out of five. There's the Opta stat to describe Didier Drogba's day. Five out of five "aerial duels," which are defined as "where two players challenge in the air against each other; the player that wins the ball is deemed to have won the duel." Sounds straightforward enough, which is also a good way of describing our plan B on Saturday: lump the ball to Didier, and hope something good happens.
In fairness, something good did happen (the goal) and something(s) even better almost did as well (his layoff to Costa, his header that trickled wide, etc.). So it wasn't the worst plan in the world and Drogba was quite successful at it. Not that we should expect otherwise.
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| 2. FILIPE LUÍS - DL | 6.6 |
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Minutes played24
Touches29
Passes28/32
Shots1/1
Tackles1/1
Of course, Drogba winning aerial duels requires the creation of opportunities to win aerial duels and Filipe Luís definitely played a role in that. Swinging in crosses from the left if much easier if you're left-footed, after all.
With Azpilicueta and Ivanović keeping the defensive wings on lockdown, this was Kasmirski's first appearance in five games. Fortunately, with three games in three different competitions coming up, we're likely to see plenty of rotation and, thus, much more playing time for everybody's favorites and non-favorites.
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| 3. THIBAUT COURTOIS - GK | 6.5 |
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Minutes played90
Touches24
Distribution13/20
Saves1
Courtois conceded for the first time in five games, but there wasn't much he could've done about either goal. He did make an excellent stop on Jack Colback in the first half.
If you recall, the first half was the half in which the Blues did not self-destruct.
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OTHERS:
Azpilicueta (5.9), Terry (6.3), Cahill (3.5), Ivanović (5.2), Mikel (5.9), Fàbregas (5.9), Hazard (6.1), Oscar (5.4), Willian (5.9), Costa (4.9)
SUBS:
Schürrle (5.9), Filipe Luís (6.6), Drogba (7.8)
OVERALL:
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