Chelsea Player Ratings: Cole Palmer Shines as Game-Changer in Copenhagen Victory.
Hulk Predicts: Chelsea Player Ratings and Scores Following Conference League Victory Over Copenhagen
Chelsea secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Conference League after a 1-0 victory over Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge. The Blues struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, registering their first shot just two minutes into the second period. However, a tactical shift by Enzo Maresca at halftime sparked a much-improved performance, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring the only goal of the match to put Chelsea in control.
Here are the player ratings from our correspondent, Peter Obot:
Filip Jorgensen – 6
Back in goal in place of Robert Sanchez. Jorgensen wasn’t called into action much but did his job when needed. Sanchez will likely start against Arsenal.
Trevoh Chalobah – 6
Solid enough performance, although he was a bit sloppy with the ball at times. Managed to hold his own overall.
Tosin Adarabioyo – 6
Reliable and consistent as always. Tosin doesn’t often steal the spotlight, but he’s a dependable presence at the back.
Benoit Badiashile – 5
Good to see him back after his injury, though he seemed a bit jittery in the first half, losing possession a couple of times. Improved in the second half.
Josh Acheampong – 7
A strong performance in his first start since January. Looked powerful when driving forward, and his crucial block on Rodrigo Huescas’ close-range shot in the 14th minute was impressive. Surprising to see him subbed at halftime.
Moises Caicedo – 7
Always busy and energetic, Caicedo was everywhere, making key tackles and interceptions. A vital presence in midfield until he was taken off late in the game.
Enzo Fernandez – 5
Struggled in the first half with a slow and sloppy start, quite unlike the high standard he’s set recently. Subbed at halftime, presumably with one eye on Arsenal.
Tyrique George – 6
Showed flashes of promise, injecting pace and directness into Chelsea’s attacks. A bright spark when he had the ball.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 8
A standout performer, scoring his third goal for the club in the second half. While the goal had a touch of luck, his persistence played a big part in it. A fantastic finish capped off a solid performance.
Jadon Sancho – 5
Struggled to make an impact again. Despite Maresca’s advice, Sancho remained quiet and was subbed off in the 65th minute.
Pedro Neto – 5
Had a chance to break through in the first half but went down too easily looking for a penalty. Overall, a quiet game by his standards, though he was slightly better in the second half.
Substitutes:
Cole Palmer (on for Fernandez, 46′) – 7
Came on at halftime and immediately made an impact. Whether it was his presence or something else, Chelsea looked more confident with him on the pitch.
Marc Cucurella (on for Acheampong, 46′) – 6
Added balance to the team, both defensively and going forward. Solid after coming on.
Christopher Nkunku (on for Sancho, 65′) – 6
Looked dangerous in his brief appearance, nearly setting up a goal straight away with a well-timed ball to Palmer, only for it to be intercepted. Encouraging signs.
Reece James (on for Caicedo, 79′) – N/A
Good to see him back on the pitch after missing the weekend match due to illness.
Genesis Antwi (on for Neto, 90′) – N/A
A proud moment for the 17-year-old, making his senior debut in the dying minutes of the match.
Chelsea’s clinical second-half performance was enough to seal their progression to the quarter-finals. While it wasn’t the most spectacular game, the Blues will be pleased to have come through with a solid win.
