1. LEVI COLWILL (7.4)
Colwill has been back for just three games, and he’s finished on the player ratings podium in all three: second, third, and now first. Our Man of the Match in the FA Cup final, as Chelsea kept Manchester City at bay … except for a goal that interim head coach Calum McFarlane called, and not unreasonably, a 1-in-100 goal.
Sure makes you wonder how differently our season might have turned out if Colwill didn’t go down with that ACL in preseason. Thankfully, the 23-year-old is looking great already and
can hopefully hit the ground running with Xabi Alonso next season. “Consistency” at the back was highlighted as one of the key areas of improvement needed under the new manager; Colwill should be central to that.
2. JORREL HATO (6.7)
Hato has been at or above the team average in each of his last twelve starts, and is showing more frequently why he was so highly rated coming out of Ajax. If we are to switch to a back-three next season, Hato could be a good fit at the left-center back position — maybe with a bit of license to roam forward to cause trouble like he did when he drew the foul from Khusanov in the penalty area. (That it was inexplicably not given is another matter entirely of course.)
3. ROBERT SÁNCHEZ (6.6)
In many ways, we would not have even made it this far place were it not for Bob’s saves in the semifinal against Leeds United in the first place, and he put in a solid showing in the final as well. Certainly not much more he, or anyone else really, could’ve done about Semenyo’s goal.
The issue of goalkeeper is said to be among the highest on our priority list this summer, but this has been Sánchez’s best season yet at Chelsea and perhaps we shouldn’t so hasty in hitting the reset button. (Jörgensen needs to go, to be sure, but I’m not convinced that the best way forward is so clearly Penders and “new signing”.)
vs. NOTTINGHAM FOREST (PL, H, L 1-3)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): —
GOOD (6.5-7.4): Colwill (7.4), Hato (6.7), Sánchez (6.6)
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Caicedo (6.4), James (6.3), João Pedro (6.3), Enzo (6.3), Fofana (6.3), Cucurella (6.2), Palmer (6.0), Gusto (5.7), Neto (5.5, sub)
SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): —
BAD (3.5-4.4): Delap (4.0, sub), Garnacho (3.9, sub)
TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): —
OVERALL
