1. PEDRO NETO (8.8)
A few weeks ago, during Sky’s post-match show after Chelsea’s 6-3 win over Leeds United in the League Cup, Pedro Neto was asked by former teammate Conor Coady about when he started to care about conceding goals. In return, Neto quipped, “Now that I’m a wing-back, lad!”
Thankfully, Neto hasn’t stopped caring about scoring goals either — and one could easily argue that his primary responsibility in the team is an attacking one, even if he’s nominally deployed as a wing-back. Not that Xabi Alonso cares to put any label on it whatsoever.
“You can call him whatever – winger, wing-back, attacker, defender – because he can do many things. Pedro has great qualities. He’s always a threat, has a great competitive level, he can run, do one-v-ones, can score goals. He’s so competitive. When he’s close to the action, he’s a threat against any full-back. When he’s on the last line or in between, he connects well with the players around.”
-Xabi Alonso; source: Chelsea FC
Whether this was the intended plan or not — Marco Palestra has just now returned to full fitness — Neto’s emergence as a solid wing-back on the right flank has been a welcome development, and a key enabler to making the formation work (not unlike Victor Moses did under Antonio Conte in 2016).
2. MOISÉS CAICEDO (7.6)
Chelsea have conceded just one goal in the two games that Caicedo started since returning from injury — and that one goal was a fluke deflection off of an attacking player.
Before that, we had conceded at least two goals in six of our seven games.
Coincidence? Probably not.
3. JORREL HATO (7.5)
Hato was a last-second replacement for Pep Chavarría, who picked up an injury the day before the match. Great way to take advantage of the opportunity and make an impact!
vs. EVERTON (PL, A, W 2-0)
EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): Neto (8.8)
EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): Caicedo (7.6), Hato (7.5)
GOOD (6.5-7.4): Acheampong (7.4), Martínez (7.4), Palmer (7.4), Rogers (7.3), Henderson (7.2), Lacroix (6.9), Colwill (6.8), Penders (6.8, sub)
AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): João Pedro (6.3), Lavia (6.0, sub), Palestra (5.8, sub), Welbeck (5.8, sub), Quenda (5.8, sub)
SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): —
BAD (3.5-4.4): —
TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): —
OVERALL
