Chelsea players ratings vs Brentford: Marcos Alonso always a threat but Ross Barkley fails to step up

Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_22 December 2021

Chelsea defied their Covid crisis to beat west London rivals Brentford and reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Here’s how Thomas Tuchel’s side rated...

Kepa Arrizabalaga 8

Made two sharp saves to keep out Wissa and Jensen headers and then denied Henry at near-post.

Cesar Azpilicueta 6

Might have offered a bit more support to the inexperienced Simons outside him as Henry ran riot. Terrific cross for Vale chance before half-time.

Trevor Chalobah 7

Back in the centre of defence after his emergency midfield deployment at Wolves and looked comfortable. Crucial tackle on Toney late on.

Malang Sarr 6

Dragged inside and caught under a couple of crosses but did not prove costly and was largely solid otherwise.

Marcos Alonso 7

Always a threat going forward and not asked to do too much going the other way as Brentford attacks focused on opposite flank. Twice won free-kicks in dangerous areas.

Saul Niguez 5

That his inclusion speaks of the extent to which Tuchel is down to the bare bones is a pretty damning indictment of how his Chelsea career has gone so far. More of the same. Booked.

Mateo Kovacic 5

Tuchel spoke of the risk in playing him against Wolves on his return from Covid absence and looked understandably short on sharpness before being replaced at half-time.

Xavier Simons 5

A proud occasion, making his debut against the club whose books he was on until they decided to close their youth academy. Had a difficult night struggling to deal with the relentless Henry, though.

Ross Barkley 5

Snatched at an early chance and while he never hid, did not step up as the senior man in a youthful front-three.

AFP via Getty Images

Harvey Vale 6

Should have marked debut with the opener when heading straight at Alvarez but was the most impressive of the academy boys. Booked.

Jude Soonsup-Bale 5

Showed a few bright moments, particularly when linking with Vale, but was hooked at half-time as Tuchel searched for some cutting edge.

Substitutes

Jorginho (Kovacic 46’) 7

Played a couple of trademark raking passes from deep that gave the Blues some of the penetration they’d lacked in first half. Sealed result with spot-kick.

Christian Pulisic (Soonsup-Bale 46’) 6

Sent on at half-time but rarely threatened any more than the teenage froward he replaced until too quick for Alvarez to win spot-kick.

Mason Mount (Vale 65’) 6

Superb pass in behind for Pulisic forced penalty.

Reece James (Simons 65’) 7

Showed quality immediately with free-kick on target, then delivered devilish cross that forced own goal.

N’Golo Kante (Barkley 76’) 7

Tuchel is being cautious with the Frenchman but he looked a class above when coming on. Quick feet set up James to cross for breakthrough.

Unused: Bettinelli, Webster, Rudiger, Hall

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