1. COLE PALMER (8.6)
This is only the second Man of the Match this season for Cole Palmer, who admitted in post-match interviews that he’s not been fully fit at any point all season.
And despite the hat-trick, he’s still not fully fit, which isn’t too surprising given the nature of his injury and the decision to not go under the knife earlier this season. I still don’t see how he’s ever going to truly get over a nagging groin problem with just this conservative, non-invasive approach, but hopefully I can be proven wrong.
Since we’re all more aware of how workloads and medical team decisions work these days, hopefully we’re all aligned on making the best choices for the player and the team. A half-fit Palmer who can only play half the time isn’t necessary helping anyone.
“[Cole] wants to be playing every minute of every game. We know the player that he is and the character that he is, but he’s also maturing as a human being. He understands the bigger picture, which is his career. […] It’s making sure he feels right, that he can contribute to the team in the way that he wants to. We’ll keep working on that. Very soon, I’m sure he’ll be in a place where he can play every minute of every game, and I’ll be a very happy man.”
“We have the very best medical team, the very best sports science team, and we do many tests. We want to make sure all our players can play at the level they need to play at to help us win. [But] there isn’t a time frame that means he is going to be perfect in a month, two months or three months. Game-to-game is the way we’ve been working with him, and that is the way we have to continue to work with him and a few of our players.”
-Liam Rosenior; source: Chelsea FC
2. JOÃO PEDRO (7.6)
JP’s excellent run of form continues, winning two penalties in this one with some clever movement and just the right amount of gamesmanship to ensure that the right calls were made by the referee and VAR. Sadly, he does not get an official assist for winning a penalty, but in my books, he should.
3. MOISÉS CAICEDO (7.1)
Caicedo hasn’t been at his best too often in recent weeks and months, but this was a welcome return to form from him. And even though he’s not been at his best, right now, it’s a two-man race between him and Reece James for our Player of the Season.
vs. WOLVES (PL, A, W 3-1)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): Palmer (8.6)
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): João Pedro (7.6)
GOOD (6.5-7.4): Caicedo (7.1), Chalobah (7.0), Cucurella (7.0), Fofana (6.9), Santos (6.7), Enzo (6.6), Sánchez (6.6)
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Neto (6.4), Gusto (6.3), Acheampong (6.3, sub), Hato (6.1, sub)
SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Delap (5.3, sub), Garnacho (4.9, sub)
BAD (3.5-4.4): —
TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): —
OVERALL
