Overview

Chelsea picked up a routine win without getting out of second gear, an increasingly common occurrence. While this was by no means a swashbuckling display, it was mature, professional and clinical. More wins like these are needed for the team to continue developing.

Rennes largely played it safe and did not afford spaces to Chelsea, making the game more cagey than expected. Chelsea got two penalties, one earned by Werner and the other by Abraham, and duly converted both. The second penalty being accompanied by a sending off effectively finished the game.

Chelsea started the second half brightly and got the third goal as a safety blanket before sitting back. From thereon out, there was only one significant chance and that was saved by Édouard Mendy from his former teammate Clement Grenier.

The fact that Chelsea, hitherto an ultra-attacking and a naive team, have started making games “boring” bodes well for the future. While the perfect balance has not been found yet, it was never going be found in a short period. For the time being, this was a satisfactory performance.

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Statistics

Stats from fbref.

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Individual ratings

Frank Lampard

Replaced Havertz with Jorginho in the only (perhaps enforced) lineup change from the weekend. The rest of the starting XI largely picked itself and while he could have rested Werner and Chilwell, it is also understandable why he picked them: 7 points after the first 3 group games is a great position to be in.

Barring one chance conceded as a result of poor defensive awareness from Jorginho and Kovačić, Chelsea were once again solid from both open play and set pieces. Given the players in attack, the team will break down most opponents. The coach’s main duty is to maintain a solid defensive base and a structure to move the ball — both of which were done reasonably well.

RATING: 7.5

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Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Édouard Mendy

Was not called into action until late the game, with his work being reduced to collecting dangerous crosses for the most part. However, he pulled off a very smart save from Grenier late in the game and as he always does, made it look simple too.

RATING: 6.5

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Reece James

His delicious assist for Tammy Abraham’s goal capped off another solid display. He is showing signs of developing a degree of understanding with Ziyech and the fact his workload is being managed carefully allows him to be at his best everytime he starts.

Stats of note
1 assist
1 blocked shot - 1st among Chelsea players
2 aerial duels won (2 contested) - Joint 2nd

RATING: 6.5

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Kurt Zouma

Barring one mis-hit clearance, this was a continuation of Zouma’s recent good form. He was decisive when called into action, both on the ground and in aerial duels. His ball progression, while not good enough to rank in the team’s top 3, was commendable, too.

Stats of note
4 clearances - Joint 2nd
2 aerial duels won (2 contested) - Joint 2nd
2 tackles won (out of 2) - Joint 2nd

RATING: 6.5

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Photo by BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Thiago Silva

An exemplary display on and off the ball. Rennes are a team with multiple fast and strong attackers and Silva rose to the challenge excellently well. He has an aura about him that cannot be quantified in stats.

Stats of note
3 aerial duels won (3 contested) - 1st
14 loose-ball recoveries - 1st
6 progressive passes - Joint 1st
4 clearances - Joint 2nd
7 passes into final third - 3rd

RATING: 7.5

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Ben Chilwell

Was not at his best but given the way he has been used over the past few weeks, it is fully understandable. He needs a break sooner rather than later.

Stats of note
2 shot creating actions - 2nd
2 tackles won (out of 4) - Joint 2nd
13 pressures - 3rd
2 touches in the penalty box - Joint 3rd

RATING: 6

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Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

Jorginho

After a good run of form, this was a display where some of his old failings crept into his game again. Rennes bypassed him with relative ease and his failure to show for the ball disrupted Chelsea’s buildup far too often. He was not at his best in terms of passing weight either.

Stats of note
6 progressive passes - Joint 1st
10 passes into final third - 2nd
16 pressures - 2nd
9 loose-ball recoveries - 3rd

RATING: 6

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N’Golo Kanté

Was tasked with playing in a more advanced position and while he did not set the world on fire, his speed of passing and intensity off the ball was necessary in sustaining the team’s pressure. The drop in solidity once he was substituted was stark to see.

Stats of note
3 tackles won (out of 3) - Joint 1st
2 interceptions - 1st

RATING: 6.5

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Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images

Mason Mount

Did a great job in linking midfield and attacking, especially considering the subdued creative passing of his teammates. While he was listed as a No.10 on paper, he played slightly deeper for several phases of the game and that is where his best work came.

Stats of note
12 passes into final third - 1st
2 passes into penalty area - 1st
24 pressures - 1st
3 tackles won (out of 4) - Joint 1st
6 progressive passes - Joint 1st

RATING: 7

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Hakim Ziyech

Rennes cut down his space and it showed in his reduced creative output. He was quiet for most parts of the game but Chelsea were not made to rue his sub-par outing.

Stats of note
3 shot-creating actions - 1st
2 open-play shots - Joint 1st
2 touches in the penalty box - Joint 3rd

RATING: 6

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Tammy Abraham

Linked play excellently and won the second penalty through his perseverance. Grabbed a well deserved goal thanks to typically excellent movement in the box. His all-round game has improved dramatically of late.

Stats of note
1 goal
2 open-play shots - Joint 1st

RATING: 7

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Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Timo Werner

Won the first penalty thanks to his speed and put it away with aplomb. The second penalty was even better. Those moments were the highlights of what was a subdued display otherwise. With a 2-0, and later 3-0, lead, there was no need for Chelsea to attack and therefore Werner did not have a lot of chances.

Stats of note
2 goals
6 touches in the penalty box - 1st

RATING: 7.5

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Substitutes

Olivier Giroud (63rd minute) - Showed signs of rust and missed a presentable header.

Mateo Kovačić (63rd minute) - Was poor once he was brought on and his introduction coincided with the team losing control in midfield.

Emerson Palmieri (63rd minute) - Was active in defending the box but also showed lapses of concentration that have become all too common with him.
Stats of note
5 clearances - 1st
2 aerial duels won (2 contested) - Joint 2nd

Antonio Rüdiger (68th minute) - Offered Silva some much-needed rest and did well to marshal the defence.
Stats of note
2 aerial duels won (2 contested) - Joint 2nd

Callum Hudson-Odoi (73rd minute) - Created one good chance for Giroud but did not do much otherwise.