On Monday the 18th of February in the FA Cup 5th round, Chelsea welcomed Manchester United where the stage was set for a thrilling game at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri was under pressure from the outset, with performances looking tired and uninspired, his future was certainly in question. Solskjaer was looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to PSG in the opening leg of the Champions League, but he was establishing himself as a firm favourite with the United fans.
After a strong opening from both sides, Ander Herrera ghosted to the back post to place a simple header past Kepa from close range, after a sumptuous cross from Pogba. The situation got even worse for Chelsea when Pogba headed in past Kepa just before the break. The second half was increasingly frustrating from a Chelsea fan’s perspective, with the fans both mocking Sarri’s ‘Sarri-ball’ and his seemingly inevitable sacking.
Here is how I rated the Chelsea players after their performance last night: Chelsea: Kepa (5)- Left exposed for the opener, but should have done much better for the second goal.
Rudiger (6)- The German battled hard, but looked once again unsettled and unsure in his partnership with David Luiz.
Azpilicueta (6)- The fan favourite, who always works hard, looked uncharacteristically out of form, and his substitution was not received well by the home fans.
Luiz (5)- Highly inconsistent and erratic defending; long passing was a threat however.
Alonso (4)- Out of form and lacking in responsibility, was caught ball-watching for Herrera’s header.
Jorginho (4)- A very unspectacular performance, overran constantly in midfield, and weak defensively, doesn’t look suited to the English game.
Kovacic (5)- Tried to keep the ball, but an unremarkable impact overall.
Kante (5)- The Frenchman struggled to influence play out of his natural position, and questions are being raised about when he will be returned to his sensational self at CDM.
Higuain (5)- Quick movement, but finish was lacking today, wasted a few good chances for someone of his quality.
Pedro (6)- A sharper point of attack than usual, looked smart and worked relentlessly.
Hazard (6)- Tried to make things happen in the final third but dealt with well overall; he struggled to make an impact on his own.
Maurizio Sarri is quickly losing popularity with the fans, with his predictable and stubborn nature of play, and his unwillingness to compromise. His frustration and anger was evident towards the end of the game, looking uncomfortable as the game drew to a close. It is unknown how long he will remain as manager, but I believe the likelihood is that he will soon no longer be in charge at the Bridge.
