All the talk has been about the officiating and the alleged racially motivated remarks made by referee Mark Clattenburg during Manchester United’s 3-2 farcical win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but our players showed tremendous spirit when they battled their way back from a tw0-goal deficit and looked as though they could go onto win the game before Clattenburg ended it as a contest by reducing us to nine men and even then, it took an offside goal to put us away before United started to play the clock.
Here’s how the Chelsea players rated, in my opinion:
Petr Cech: 7.5
Blameless for all three of the goals we conceded yesterday and did enough to deny United with his one-handed save to deny Robin van Persie, only the linesman wasn’t doing his job properly and Little Sh*t’s effort wasn’t ruled offside.
Branislav Ivanovic: 5
Was a little unfortunate to be sent off as he accidentally clipped Ashley Young, unless he’s just extremely good at making it look accidental, but had to go as he was the last man.
Gary Cahill: 6
The best of a bad bunch as far as our defence is concerned and forced a great save from the United keeper with a header. Had a torrid start to the game.
David Luiz: 5
Couldn’t do anything about the own goal but showed too many lapses in concentration when defending. Almost scored from a free-kick but for De Gea’s save with his legs.
Ashley Cole: 4
Not Cole’s best game as he struggled once again against United’s Antonio Valencia. He could be in need of a rest as he didn’t show great form against Srna in the week either. Caught out of position for the first two goals.
John Obi Mikel: 7
Poor start to the game but settled into the game and began to offer the protection he’s supposed to as Chelsea pressed well after going 2-0 and put United under increasing pressure.
Ramires: 7.5
Scored the goal that brought us level with a header. Runs and runs. There’s still a few things that Chelsea need to work on, but a Mikel/Ramires combo is part of a new spine that’s developing.
Oscar: 7
Was sacrificed after Ivanovic received a red card but showed some great moments of skill and provided the cross for Ramires’ goal. Got stuck in when we were in a bad place and showed great spirit.
Juan Mata: 8
I regard him as the best player in the Premier League at the moment, especially in terms of form, and didn’t disappoint as he scored a great free-kick and played a part in our second. Given the chance, I wouldn’t have put it past him to help win us the game with XI on the pitch and perhaps with even ten, but not with nine.
Eden Hazard: 7.5
Tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck at times by taking on the United defence and showing great feet, but couldn’t create anything more than a half chance for himself. But again, denied the opportunity to shine further by poor officiating that crippled our chances.
Fernando Torres: 4.5
Made a great header but denied by yet another great De Gea save and ought to have levelled the playing field when he skipped past Jonny Evans, who was already on a yellow and dragged his studs down the Spanish forward’s shin after missing the ball completely, but received a second yellow himself as Clattenburg bizarrely judged it as simulation. He didn’t threaten enough when he was on the pitch though and was generally a poor display in which he completed something like five passes and didn’t do much else.
Cesar ‘Dave’ Azpilicueta and Ryan Bertrand came on and did ok in a depleted side. Daniel Sturridge was going to replace Torres before he was dismissed and didn’t really have a chance to shine when he came on thereafter.
Spot on assesment…I agree entirely.
Very correct rating guy.