Date: 23rd September 2014 at 5:00pm
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Photo by @cfcunofficial

Photo by @cfcunofficial

An entertaining but ultimately disappointing game for Chelsea who started well and seemed to be strolling at 1-0 up only to take their foot off the pedal letting Schalke back in to the game. A concerted effort to sort it out led to Chelsea creating many chances toward the end of the game but they were not as clinical in front of goal as they had been in previous weeks. Didier Drogba got a start in place of the rested Costa but not fully match sharp looked off the pace and Felipe Luis on his full debit impressed in the left back position.

Courtois – 7 – Under more pressure than in previous games, the big Belgian made some important saves particularly an eye catching save from a Boeteng scorcher

Luis – 7 – An accomplished full debut for Luis in the left back role. Looked good going forward and put in some decent crosses and balls. 

Terry – 6 – Busy night for JT with the marauding Draxler and Van Hunterlaar a threat. His best/worst moment was getting a booking after scoring a 30 yard pile driver after the whistle had gone for the foul he’d committed. Looked rather sheepish as a result!

Cahill – 6 – Arguably at fault for the Schalke goal exhibiting his annoying habit of not getting close enough to the striker before he shot or pushing him out of danger and on his weaker side when Van Hunterlaar scored. Otherwise dependable.

Ivanovic – 7 – Great in attack flying down the wing, putting crosses in and popping off the odd header and shot, but questions need to be asked of the space he is leaving at the back as opposition teams increasingly seem to be exploiting this.

Matic – 6 – Still settling in to the season and getting used to a less defensive minded midfielder next to him in Fabregas. Often gets isolated as a result, but got forward more in this game than he has for a while.

This is what we had to say about it on the show:

Fabregas – 7 – had a mixed game in truth. Opened his account at Chelsea with a well worked goal which he started (although probably a foul) and finished , missed a sitter and took a dreadful free-kick, and got caught in possession which led to the Schalke goal but also put through some exquisite passes and through balls to set up many chances. The chipped ball through to Hazard was superb. Much better playing in the number 10 role giving full scope for his attacking talents.

Ramires – 6 – The usual curate’s egg performance from Ramires. Lots of running, lots of biting tackles, bursts down the right flank and some decent passes added to getting caught in possession and giving the ball away with some shocking touches. At least he avoided a booking for a change. Subbed for Oscar on 67 minutes in a tactical switch.

Hazard – 8 – Picked up where he left off against Swansea and definitely getting back to his best. A constant threat running at defenders, great link up play with Fabregas for the goal and unlucky not to get on the score sheet with a great volley and missing Fabregas’ through ball by inches.

Willian – 8 – Decent game for Willian playing in the hole behind Drogba in a 4:4:1:1 – bags of energy and attacking intent. And with Hazard probably our best player on the night. Subbed on 74 minutes to make way for a striker to try and win the game and possibly to not risk him picking up a second yellow card.

Drogba – 5 – Disappointing return for Drogba, clearly not match sharp yet having recovered from injury. Both his touch and his legs seem to have deserted him as he missed a couple of chances that the Drogba of a year or two ago would have buried, and seemed to be running backwards in a one on one with a Schalke defender. Hopefully he can get his sharpness back, but it looks like the legs have gone.

Subs:

Oscar – 6 – Came on for Ramires, and the tactical switch allowed Chelsea to attack with more vigour.

Remy – 6 – Arguably should have started instead of Drogba, and looked dangerous with some excellent passes and link up play, and unlucky not to get on the score sheet with a shot that was headed off the line.

Costa – 6 – A better attacking option than Drogba clearly but didn’t get enough time to get up to full steam although like Remy he looked dangerous.

 

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