1. WILLIAN 9.1
Minutes: 90
Touches: 47
Passes: 19/25
Shots: 1*/4
Take-ons: 6/8
Fouls drawn: 2
Tackles: 4
Back-to-back Man of the Match awards for Willian as he continues his red hot form. He was just a pass or two away from a perfect 10.
The repeat MoM is the first time Big Willi Style has done that since the Fall of 2015 and the Fall of Mourinho Mk.II.
2. N’GOLO KANTÉ (8.0)
Minutes: 90
Touches: 44
Passes: 25/30
Take-ons: 2/2
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 2+4+2
Kanté has won the Premier League twice, won Player of the Year once, and was voted the eighth best player in the world in last year’s Ballon d’Or. But this game, coming up against the player who finished second in that pageant and is probably the best player to have ever played the game, was considered the big test for N’Golo. And after a couple initial nervous moments, I think we can safely say that he passed with flying colors. And tackled. And intercepted. And even ran forward and if Willian’s pass was just a fraction beter, would’ve probably scored, too.
3. CÉSAR AZPILICUETA (7.5)
Minutes: 90
Touches: 42
Passes: 22/30
Clearances: 3
Tackles+INTs+Blocks: 2+6+1
The captain on the night just barely edges Eden Hazard for third spot, but it’s probably a fitting accolade. Like Christensen, Azpi only made one mistake, going to ground on the same play. If he stay up and just closes down Iniesta, we’re probably looking at the clean sheet. Hindsight is 20/20 of course and Dave probably though he could get the ball. Them’s the breaks. Still, a stellar performance from Azpi and when he’s alongside Rüdiger and Christensen, that back three is really starting to look formidable.
EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): Willian (9.1)
EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): Kante (8.0)
GOOD (7.0-7.9): Azpilicueta (7.5), Hazard (7.5), Rudiger (7.4), Alonso (7.1), Moses (7.1), Courtois (7.0), Fabregas (7.0)
AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Pedro (6.6), Christensen (6.3)
POOR (5.0-5.9): Drinkwater (5.8, sub), Morata (5.8, sub)
BAD (4.0-4.9): —
TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —
OVERALL: