Chelsea Football Club registered a hugely significant victory away at the KCOM stadium in Yorkshire by defeating Hull City 2-0. It was a slow start with Chelsea leading the statistics chart in terms of possession and chances created but there was a much sincere urgency in the play of the blues today. Antonio Conte’s bold and intriguing changes paid off for Chelsea today.
They played a 3-4-3 with Hazard, Costa and Willian as forwards, Matic and Kante as midfielders, Moses and Alonso as wingbacks and Cahill, Azpilicueta and Luiz as centre-backs. Ivanovic was dropped after a string of disappointing performances and Moses got a deserved start. Things became better for the team from London in the second half and they repeatedly knocked on the doors of Hull who were resilient enough but soon the goal came from the combination of Costa and Willian where Costa played a swift ball to the left aimed for Willian and the end product was a magnificent curler from the Brazilian with the ball sailing to the top right corner of the net. The next goal too came quickly enough and this time it was Diego Costa finishing it off at a similar position with a very similar goal like the one scored earlier. Thibaut Courtois and Chelsea’s defence had very less to do and added a bonus in form of a clean-sheet. Here is how the Blues are fared against the Tigers :-
1) Thibaut Courtois – 7/10
Made over a couple of good saves even though Hull hardly attacked very much in this game. A clean-sheet for the Belgian keeper will be a morale booster.
2) Caesar Azpilicueta – 7/10
Azpilicueta didn’t have much to do today being shifted as a centre back in the 3-4-3 system. A well deserved clean-sheet for the entire defence nevertheless.
3) David Luiz – 6.5/10
David Luiz had nothing much to do today. Had a decent game.
4) Gary Cahill – 6.5/10
Gary Cahill’s performance dropped down badly last few weeks but today he would be a relieved man. Little to do for the under pressure defender.
5) N’golo Kante – 7/10
Kante went box to box today and was the midfielder making forward runs rather than Nemanja Matic. A decent performance overall.
6) Nemanja Matic – 6.5/10
A role of a holding midfielder for Nemanja Matic and he wasn’t really involved in the game except for passing and rotating the ball.
7) Marcos Alonso – 7 / 10
An impressive display as a wingback for Alonso. Even though he lacks pace, his technique and crossing ability looks very good. Chelsea fans will only hope that he will keep up like this and will stay firm down the left.
8) Victor Moses – 8/10
Moses had very little to do defensively as a wingback but attacking wise he was probably the best in the Chelsea team today. He kept attacking down the right and was very impressive. A very good performance on his return to the first team.
9) Willian – 7.5/10
Willian had a good game overall. His goal that broke the deadline was a sensational one.
10) Eden Hazard – 7/10
Made good dribbles down the left and he is a threat whenever he gets the ball. Silent today and much to improve for Hazard. Not a bad performance!
11) Diego Costa – 8.5/10
A nightmare for any defence on his day and Costa is so impressive in holding up the play and playing linkups. An assist for the goal of Willian and a sublime finish to score his goal. 6 goals from 6 games for the Spanish striker who’s enjoying his sensational start to the campaign.