1. REECE JAMES (8.1)
Reece James may not get as many headlines as Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, or Callum Hudson-Odoi, but he’s put together a very good sophomore season in the Chelsea first-team and has shown his qualities under both Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, both as a full-back and as a wing-back.
He may not be a nailed-on starter under the new boss at the moment, but he’s featured in all but the very first of Tuchel’s matches, and he’s the only player in the squad who can actually claim that. Others may have more minutes, but no one has more than James’ 24 appearances. This was his 13th start under Tuchel and it was one to savor as he dominated his opposite number and literally forced a substitution late on from Pep Guardiola to save Benjamin Mendy from total embarrassment.
Oh, and lest we forget, James is still just 21. The future, his own and Chelsea’s on the right flank, is very bright.
Thought this guy was brilliant tonight! @reecejames_24
— Ben Chilwell (@BenChilwell) May 8, 2021
2. ÉDOUARD MENDY (8.0)
Mendy has hardly put a foot (or hand) wrong since arriving at Chelsea at the start of the season and solving our goal-kepa conundrum, but the one thing that had been missing was a penalty save.
In a way, I’m glad we waited for him to Mutombo the weaksauce that was Agüero’s hilariously misguided Panenka. Not on his house, or your house, Sergio!
nah ah ah pic.twitter.com/Fjp06DkE20
— Dávid Pásztor (@D_Peezy) May 9, 2021
3. HAKIM ZIYECH (7.8)
Just barely edging out Marcos Alonso, Ziyech slides into third thanks to a really well-taken goal that got Chelsea back on level terms. Ziyech’s (first) season at Chelsea hasn’t been outstanding, but that’s probably only because we can’t play City every week — though we do play them in the Champions League final, so if Ziyech wants to add to his tally of 2 goals in games against City, that would be grand.
vs. MANCHESTER CITY (PL, A, W 2-1)
EXCEPTIONAL (9.0+): —
EXCELLENT (8.0-8.9): James (8.1), Mendy (8.0)
GOOD (7.0-7.9): Ziyech (7.8), Alonso (7.8), Azpilicueta (7.7), Kanté (7.6), Werner (7.4), Rüdiger (7.4), Hudson-Odoi (7.3, sub), Gilmour (7.2), Pulisic (7.1), Zouma (7.0, sub), Jorginho (7.0, sub)
AVERAGE (6.0-6.9): —
POOR (5.0-5.9): Christensen (5.8)
BAD (4.0-4.9): —
TERRIBLE (3.0-3.9): —