Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea got off to a flying start as they won 3-0 against Huddersfield Town. Goals from N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Pedro were enough to see Chelsea through, as Sarri’s imposing game style was visible in patches. Overall, it was a pretty convincing performance from Sarri’s men, and here I rate each one of them from this game:
Kepa Arrizabalaga: 5/10
The Spanish custodian eased his way into the game and survived some early nervy moments to effectively keep a clean sheet. Truth be told, he was hardly tested during the game but it was a decent debut nevertheless.
Cesar Azpilicueta: 8/10
Azpilicueta looked poised and balanced as he managed both the defensive and attacking duties and was solid throughout the course of the game. He managed to get back into positions appropriately to avoid any defensive errors and delivered some good balls into the box too.
Antonio Rudiger: 7/10
Rudiger was solid at the back, making crucial blocks and recycled the ball well. He outpaced his opponents and used his strength to win the ball back, accordingly, delivering a good performance.
David Luiz: 6/10
He was pretty composed at the back, something which is unlike him usually. Did well to spray a few long passes for the forwards.
Marcos Alonso: 6/10
Alonso does look uncomfortable while playing in a four-man backline, but he is improving with every game. He still managed to make his way into the opposition box and earned the spot-kick that resulted in the second goal.
Jorginho: 7/10
The Italian midfielder was a calming influence in front of the defence, as he judged the game well and took calculated decisions with the ball at his feet. He circulated the ball and was patient until he found an opening in the opposition’s backline. His ability to dictate the flow of the game was impressive, and the team could certainly expect more of this from him in the coming matches.
N’Golo Kante: 8/10
Kante took up advanced positions on the field and his incessant energy coupled with the drive ensured that the team always looked to be on the attacking front whenever the Frenchman received the ball. He knocked the ball into the net for the first goal, and it might just be an indication of things to come in the near future.
Ross Barkley: 5/10
Barkley’s impact on the game was certainly inferior to that of the other midfielders, but he did make a couple of good passes and touches to ensure that he didn’t upset the overall flow of the game.
Willian: 7/10
The Brazilian displayed a well-tuned version of his game as he was less erratic and more effective in every move that he initiated. Willian’s pace on the flanks, coupled with his tenacity to contribute to the defensive duties and his crossing ability were all useful against the Terriers.
Pedro: 7/10
Pedro was energetic and full of intent, often combining passes down the right flank and looking to supply the central players with some accurate balls. His finish for the third goal was class apart, and it looks like Pedro has gained his old form back.
Alvaro Morata: 5/10
Another average performance from Morata, as his inability to beat the offside trap and nervousness in 1v1 situations was visible. On the flipside, he looked more agile and often switched positions to create space for the wide players. He is improving but the rate at which it is happening is worrisome.
Substitutes
Ruben Loftus Cheek: 5/10
Loftus-Cheek kept things simple in the middle.
Eden Hazard: 7/10
The Belgian was impressive when he came on to provide a vital assist and earned another free kick due to a quick run from the centre.
Victor Moses: 5/10
Moses had minimal contribution as Chelsea looked to play the game out in the final ten minutes.