The full-time whistle has been blown in the match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge, and it is time for our player ratings.
Tottenham Hotspur have once again failed to take advantage of West Ham United’s slip-up, falling to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea and pushing the race for survival down to the final gameweek of the season, despite needing just a draw at the Bridge.
Let us take a look at how the individual players got on:
Tottenham player ratings vs Chelsea after 2-1 defeat
Antonin Kinsky – He definitely should have done better for Chelsea’s opener, as he misjudged where Enzo Fernandez was aiming. In the second half, he was barely tested, but for Chelsea’s second goal, there was nothing he could do. 5.
Pedro Porro – After creating a few good chances in the first half with crosses into the box, Porro stuck at it in the second half with his deliveries from corners, but his teammates just could not convert. 5.
Kevin Danso – For most of the second half, the Tottenham centre-backs looked solid and were barely threatened, not until Randal Kolo Muani’s moment of madness. In the first half, Danso did have a half-chance from a corner, but it was not threatening. 4.
Micky van de Ven – The Dutchman was aggressive in his approach in the first half and stayed tight to Liam Delap for most of the game. The forward barely had a sniff. In the second half, van de Ven saw plenty of the ball and was crucial in build-up play. He barely put a foot wrong. 5.
Destiny Udogie – It was not the best performance from the full-back, who had to pick his moments to join the attack with overlapping runs. In the first half, those moments were few and far between, and they continued in the second. The passes meant to release his runs were not always the best either. 4.
Joao Palhinha – When Enzo Fernandez let fly in the first half, Palhinha was nowhere near close enough to block the shot. Chelsea then proceeded to dominate possession in midfield in that half. Spurs, however, regained some control in the second half, but Palhinha offered little and was substituted later on. 3.
Rodrigo Bentancur – In the first 45 minutes, he struggled to get on the ball and dictate proceedings from midfield, with Moises Caicedo man-marking him. The Chelsea midfielder dropped off in the second half, and the Uruguayan began to see more of the ball, helping Spurs dictate the tempo better. 4.
Conor Gallagher – It was a poor first half from Gallagher, who barely had any influence in the number 10 role. In the second forty-five, he had a half-chance following a cross from the right, but his shot was straight at Robert Sanchez. When James Maddison was introduced, Gallagher dropped into a deeper midfield role. 4.
Mathys Tel – The winger had Spurs’ best chance of the first half and, in the second interval, when Tottenham needed to push for a goal, he did not have any clear-cut chances and barely created anything. 5.
Richarlison – A frustrating night for the Brazilian, who was simply not up to the task throughout. In the first forty-five, he did not have a clear-cut chance; in the second, he carried on in the same fashion and offered little up front. Richarlison eventually got a big chance after Pape Matar Sarr’s effort fell kindly to him, and he tapped in. 5.
Randal Kolo Muani – The Frenchman saw plenty of the ball, but did not make the most of it. In the first half, he barely took on his man, often opting for the safer option. In the second half, he continued similarly, almost always looking to hit first-time balls into the box, which were often intercepted. He was careless in possession, and Chelsea punished Spurs for it as they doubled their lead. A poor display. 1.
Substitutes
James Maddison – The Englishman came on to replace Kolo Muani after his costly error. He came close after some nice link-up play with Richarlison, but his effort was blocked. 6.
Djed Spence – The full-back came on and went straight into the left-wing role with Tel moving to the right as Spurs reshuffled their attack. He played a part in the Tottenham goal. 6.
Pape Matar Sarr – He came on and offered some attacking threat for Tottenham, getting into good positions, and eventually provided the assist for Richarlison’s goal. 6.