1. CHRISTIAN PULISIC (7.8)

It’s Christian Pulisic’s Chelsea world; we’re just living in it. Can the hype get any higher? Of course! We’re just getting started.

That’s three Man of the Match awards from the community in a row for the 21-year-old, who had spent the best part of the past six months waiting for his moment to return. One adductor injury and one global lockdown later, Pulisic’s back with a vengeance.

Let’s hope he never stops.

He didn’t score in this one — and he really should’ve converted that wonderful first-half chance — but he was one of the few players to emerge with any credit from a drastically bad first half, and then played his part in Chelsea dominating the second half and walking away with the win and a spot in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley.

2. CÉSAR AZPILICUETA (7.4, sub)

Lost a bit in the shadows of Captain America, César “Iron Dave” Azpillicueta has put together his finest run of performances in recent memory, and not just with his usual defensive excellence. After his two-assist performance on Thursday last weekend, Azpi factored directly into the winning goal here, too, combining with Willian to take Ben Chilwell out and create space for Willian’s inch-perfect cross for Barkley’s excellent finish.

3. MATEO KOVAČIĆ (7.3, sub)

Nice to see my man Mateo recover from his sluggish Restart-start and put in a wonderfully controlled and quality performance alongside N’Golo Kanté to settle Chelsea’s midfield down and provide the platform for our win. Kovačić isn’t yet operating at the height of his powers, but he and Kanté and even Dr-Ross Mr-Barkley are keeping Jorginho out of the team at the moment.

vs. LEICESTER CITY (FAC, A, W 1-0)

EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —

EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): —

GOOD (7.0-7.9): Pulisic (7.8), Azpilicueta (7.4, sub), Kovačić (7.3, sub), Barkley (7.2, sub), Willian (7.1)

AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): Kanté (6.8), Caballero (6.7), Zouma (6.6), Rüdiger (6.4), Abraham (6.3)

POOR (5.0-5.9): Emerson (5.7), Loftus-Cheek (5.7, sub), Pedro (5.7, sub), Mount (5.6), James (5.0)

BAD (4.0-4.9): Gilmour (4.5)

TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —

OVERALL