{"items":[{"title":"Chelsea player ratings: Malmo (H)","body":"
A rampant second-half performance from Chelsea saw the Blues coast through to the next round of the Europa League.<\/p>\n
Maurizio Sarri came into the game under a mountain of pressure and needed a strong showing from a rotated side to ease the groans of discontent ahead of their highly anticipated showdown with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The intensity and passion the Italian wanted, however, was severely lacking in the first half as Malmo bossed large portions of the game and created the better of the chances.<\/p>\n
Despite, apparently, being unable to motivate his team over recent weeks, Sarri must\u2019ve instilled a new found belief in his players as the tempo quickened, and movement off the ball became more frequent.<\/p>\n
rench midfielder N\u2019Golo Kante epitomised the side\u2019s change in desire, and his rampaging break from deep laid the ball into the path of Willian, who squared for Olivier Giroud to tap home and give Chelsea the lead.<\/p>\n
This lead was doubled with 15 minutes to play when Ross Barkley curled in a sumptuous 20-yard free-kick moments after Rasmus Bengtsson had been sent off for a lunging tackle.<\/p>\n
The man that many had come to see play, Callum Hudson-Odoi, lit up Stamford Bridge with a low driven shot to cap off an impressive individual display.<\/p>\n
The result will ease pressure on Sarri, but his long-term future will more likely be dependant on the outcome of games against City and Tottenham.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how we rated the Blues in the game:<\/p>\n","author":"Sam Tabuteau","image":[{"url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131235934-1200x800.jpg","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","title":"Chelsea v Malmo FF - UEFA Europa League Round of 32: Second Leg"}],"dates":{"published":"2019-02-22T08:21:42+00:00","updated":"2019-02-22T08:36:15+00:00"},"id":"10-56924","link":[{"rel":"self","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/readchelsea.com\/2019\/02\/22\/chelsea-player-ratings-malmo-h\/"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"application\/json","href":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/msn-feed\/?id=10-56924"}],"keywords":[],"slideshows":[{"images":[{"title":"Chelsea player ratings: Malmo (H)","body":"
A rampant second-half performance from Chelsea saw the Blues coast through to the next round of the Europa League.
Maurizio Sarri came into the game under a mountain of pressure and needed a strong showing from a rotated side to ease the groans of discontent ahead of their highly anticipated showdown with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
The intensity and passion the Italian wanted, however, was severely lacking in the first half as Malmo bossed large portions of the game and created the better of the chances.
Despite, apparently, being unable to motivate his team over recent weeks, Sarri must’ve instilled a new found belief in his players as the tempo quickened, and movement off the ball became more frequent.
rench midfielder N’Golo Kante epitomised the side’s change in desire, and his rampaging break from deep laid the ball into the path of Willian, who squared for Olivier Giroud to tap home and give Chelsea the lead.
This lead was doubled with 15 minutes to play when Ross Barkley curled in a sumptuous 20-yard free-kick moments after Rasmus Bengtsson had been sent off for a lunging tackle.
The man that many had come to see play, Callum Hudson-Odoi, lit up Stamford Bridge with a low driven shot to cap off an impressive individual display.
The result will ease pressure on Sarri, but his long-term future will more likely be dependant on the outcome of games against City and Tottenham.
Here’s how we rated the Blues in the game:<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131235934.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131235934-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Willy Caballero - 6","body":"
Had very little to do, but kept a clean sheet nonetheless.<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131223026.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131223026-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Cesar Azpilicueta - 6","body":"
His deliveries in the first-half still struggled to beat the first man and he became a more peripheral figure in the second-half.<\/p>\n","author":"Clive Mason\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131220918.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131220918-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Antonio Rudiger - 6","body":"
A quiet evening for the German who was a surprise inclusion ahead of the cup final this weekend. He was guilty of not being tight enough to his marker from crosses, and that could prove to be costly against City, as it did on Monday night.<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131228624.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131228624-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Andreas Christensen - 6","body":"
Having played so few games this season he was naturally still taking time to adapt, and as a result, the Dane was guilty of giving away possession needlessly at times.<\/p>\n","author":"Naomi Baker\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1084653804.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1084653804-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Emerson - 7","body":"
Made some great overlapping runs, especially once the game opened up in the second-half, but much like Azpilicueta, his deliveries were poor all too often.<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131222128.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131222128-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"N'Golo Kante- 7.5","body":"
Was very influential once he began to pick up spaces in the defensive phases. Anticipated play well, nicking the ball via a tackle or interception and driving through the midfield to transition Chelsea from defence to attack.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131229474.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131229474-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Mateo Kovacic - 7","body":"
Slow and ponderous in the first half but once he began to revert to one touch passing, the runs off of him became more incisive and ‘Sarri-ball’ was implemented effectively.<\/p>\n","author":"Mike Hewitt\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1130721104.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1130721104-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Ross Barkley - 7.5","body":"
A lovely free-kick saw him net in back-to-back Europa League games, and his movement was the basis for a more fluid midfield three.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131223348.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131223348-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Willian - 8","body":"
Perhaps held on to the ball too much but as Malmo tired, they became more susceptible to the Brazilian’s quick feet and change of pace, allowing him to collect two superb assists.<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131218295.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131218295-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Olivier Giroud - 7.5","body":"
Held the ball up really well and was the only way in which Chelsea were able to hold possession further up the pitch in the first-half. His late run into the box got him on the scoresheet, and he’s now scored five consecutive goals in the Europa League this season.<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131231244.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131231244-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Callum Hudson-Odoi - 8","body":"
Took full advantage of a tiring Malmo side in the second half, picking up space out wide before driving into the box. His desire to get on the ball and impress was notable and he completed an outstanding 11 dribbles in the game, whilst netting his second goal for the club late on.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131240676.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1131240676-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"Subs:","body":"
Jorginho – 6:<\/strong> Came on to a chorus of boos from the home support, and his confidence will surely be shot to bits. Having said that he continued to be tidy in possession.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – 7:<\/strong> Effortlessly adapted to the tempo of the game, driving with the ball and releasing Willian and Hudson-Odoi into space. Nearly got on the scoresheet late on.
Ethan Ampadu – 6:<\/strong> Took up a new position at right back for the last 15 minutes or so and he looked composed if nothing else.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Naomi Baker\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1084654528.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1084654528-160x160.jpg"}]}]}]}