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1. THIBAUT COURTOIS | 7.2 |
Minutes played90
Touches40
Passes13/27
Saves3
Thibaut Courtois has been voted the Man of the Match in Chelsea's last two Premier League home games, and while that's fantastic for him in terms of individual achieveement, based on prior voting patterns, that's less good overall since goalkeepers tend to only win these votes in draws and losses.
As ever, that pattern speaks to the continued excellence between the sticks of the Chelsea goal, with Courtois now working on his fourth season as Petr Čech's heir. Shakiness against Burnley aside (alongside the whole team), and a few issues in distribution notwithstanding, Courtois's having another great season, including one tremendous save against City on Fernandinho's point-blank header.
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2. ANTONIO RÜDIGER | 7.0 |
Minutes played90
Touches67
Passes45/51
Tackles4
Block+INTs4
Clearances5
This is the first time new signing Antonio Rüdiger has made the top three of the community player ratings. It's unfortunate that it has come in Chelsea's worst performance of the season, overall, though the defense did and admirable job in trying to hold off Manchester City despite the midfield's porosity and the attack's disappearing act.
Sweet goal-line clearance from Rüdiger, too.
While that xG map gives Chelsea just a bit too much credit I fell, Rüdiger, just 24, has adjusted to life in England quicker than expected, and has shown plenty of ability to almost be able to call his £30m transfer fee a bargain in this inflated market.
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3. ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN | 6.6 |
Minutes played90
Touches45
Passes25/30
Tackles1
Block+INTs5
Clearances6
In the voting form, I forgot to replace David Luiz with Andreas Christensen, so he received only about half the amount of votes of the other players. I'm assuming that those who voted, voted in the faith that the ratings they were assigning were for Christensen, who was playing the David Luiz position just as he had been throughout David's three-match suspension.
The interesting question now becomes, with David Luiz ready to return in domestic competition as well, how will Conte continue to find minutes for Christensen, who clearly deserves and needs them. Could we see more David Luiz as third midfielder like against Spurs (and the final 5 minutes against Atlético)?
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STARTERS:
Courtois (7.2), Cahill (5.9), Christensen (6.6), Rüdiger (7.0), Alonso (6.0), Fàbregas (4.5), Bakayoko (5.2), Kanté (5.8), Azpilicueta (6.2), Hazard (5.6), Morata (6.1)
SUBS:
Willian (3.3), Batshuayi (4.9), Pedro (5.1)