London, England – July 26: Willy Caballero of Chelsea makes a save during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on July 26, 2020 in London, UK. (Photo by Craig Mercer / MB Media / Getty Images)
It was a great day for Chelsea as the Blues secured themselves a place in next season’s Champions League. How did the players perform on an individual scale?
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea is in the Champions League. It just sounds good, doesn’t it? The Blues put the nerves to bed in the last game of the season against Wolves. Lampard’s men had an excellent performance securing a top four position in what turned out to be a hectic last week of a wild Premier League season. The wolves came out with a groan after Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud’s first half goals, but how did the rest of the team compare as individual players during the 90 minutes?
Willy Caballero (Goalkeeper): 8
Caballero came up with some great saves and ultimately kept a clean sheet. Many debated whether the decision to start at age 38 was the right one, but in the end, there was no doubt. This is the beginning of the end for Kepa Arrizabalaga, Caballero will surely start from now on. Chelsea will look for replacements in the market. If anyone had money for the Argentine to outlive his West London goalkeeper counterpart, congratulations, he has won what I am sure will be a massive sum of money.
Cesar Azpilicueta (Central defender): 8
It was another very good day at the office for Azpilicueta. The Chelsea captain appeared in one of the team’s biggest games this season. He relieved each and every tension in the back with the calm, cool and serene game he is so well known for. While it sometimes seemed like Reece James would outperform him in the lineup next year, the Spaniard presented a compelling case for himself starting in September.
Kurt Zouma (central defender): 8.5
If Frank Lampard had any doubts about who his best midfielder was headed for, those insecure thoughts are now gone. Zouma was the anchor in Chelsea’s central defense and has been for most of the restart. His aerial presence has masked the Blues’ problems and his inclusion proved to be the difference in the stretch. If Zouma walks in the next few months, Chelsea is in trouble.
Antonio Rudiger (central defender): 7
Well Chelsea fans, breathe. The Premier League season has come to an end and the Blues defense loses the team’s top four hopes. Rudiger was not the best today, but he was far from the worst. He had his moments here and there, but in the end, the German did enough to justify a starting role for the rest of the season.
