Chelsea are through to another FA Cup final. Here’s how we rated each Blues player in their semi-final victory over Southampton at Wembley.
Not always totally convincing, but did enough. Just about kept out a long-range strike from Nathan Redmond and was given the benefit of the doubt when a foul was awarded when the ball crossed the line after Caballero fumbled.
An absolutely typical Azpilicueta performance; faultless defensively and delivered a peach of a cross from the right for Alvaro Morata to head in the all-important second goal.
Has struggled for form at times this season but has looked much more reliable of late and this was another composed performance at the heart of the Blues defence.
Also played well up against a Southampton side that threw two up front but had very little success bar a spell of pressure in the second half.
Worked hard on the right-hand side on what was sometimes a frustrating afternoon for him.
Another fine performance in midfield. A highlight was a clever feint which fooled two Saints players and enabled him to turn and run forward with the ball after collecting Azpilicueta’s pass in his own half.
Pulled the strings in midfield and his ball into the box led to Olivier Giroud’s opener in the first minute of the second half.
More conservative than at Burnley in midweek, but did the basics well. Is still building up his match fitness and it’s too early to judge him fairly, but does he look better than Kenedy?
Clearly disappointed to be taken off shortly after the hour mark and many Chelsea fans were unhappy with the decision too – and understandably so, given that the Brazilian was lively in the first half, hitting the bar with an early strike and the top of the net with a free-kick.
Terrific stuff from Hazard, who as usual was electrifying with the ball at his feet. Teed up Giroud for the opening goal after a superb piece of control, was denied a goal by a fine save from Alex McCarthy, and was too good for Southampton to handle every time he picked the ball up.
Showed his class for his goal, managing to evade no fewer than four defenders as well as McCarthy before stabbing the ball home. His all-round showing was excellent, with his movement and hold-up play a major factor in his team’s victory.
Did reasonably well after coming on for Willian in the second half – a substitution many Chelsea fans were unhappy about. He did nothing to silence his doubters with a couple of stray passes, but Bakayoko won a couple of important challenges too.
Made an impact straight after coming on – yet again heading in a right-wing cross from fellow Spaniard Azpilicueta. And Morata would have had a second but for a save from McCarthy and a clearance off the line by Maya Yoshida. Pedro, who was later also introduced, had no time to make an impression.
This post was last modified on 23/04/2018