Chelsea player ratings vs Panathinaikos: Two get 9/10 as Maresca proven wrong | Football | Sport
Chelsea bounced back from their defeat to Liverpool in style as Enzo Maresca’s side beat Panathinaikos 4-1 in Greece on Thursday night. The Italian made 11 changes to his side for the UEFA Conference League tie and would have been delighted with how his fringe players performed.
Joao Felix slotted home from a Mykhaylo Mudryk cross to hand the Blues the lead on 22 minutes in Athens, before the Ukrainian headed home from Pedro Neto‘s delivery shortly after the break.
Felix doubled his tally when his 20-yard effort was deflected past Bartlomej Dragowski by Milinkovic, before the Portuguese earned a penalty that was converted by Christopher Nkunku. Former Manchester United forward Facundo Pellistri grabbed a consolation, but the Blues were never troubled.
Express Sport assesses the player ratings after the west London outfit continued their 100 per cent record in the competition.
Chelsea player ratings vs Panathinaikos
Filip Jorgensen 6/10
Demonstrated his feline-esque reactions in the opening minutes to keep out Bart Schenkeveld’s header. Assured in everything else he did, and once again, the Norwegian looks a better distributor of the ball than his goalkeeping colleague Robert Sanchez. Will be frustrated not to get a clean sheet.
Axel Disasi 6
Clearly an awkward fit at right-back, but nearly scored a rare goal after bulldozing his way through the opposition defence. Found wanting at the back post when Pellistri slotted home. Booked.
Benoit Badiashile 7
Calm in possession and willing to play through the lines, his impressive audition as a ball-playing centre-back quarterback proves Badiashile has a role to play in this Chelsea side. His defensive work was somewhat reactive rather than proactive, though.
Renato Veiga 7
His versatility was put to the test as he started at centre-back. But the 21-year-old continues to grow with another solid display and didn’t look out of place.
Marc Cucurella 6
The game rather passed him by in the first half as Fernandez and Dewsbury-Hall enjoyed the lionshare of the ball in central areas. Made a feeble attempt to stop Giannis Kotsiras’ cross for the Panathinaikos goal.
Enzo Fernandez 7
After being dropped for the defeat at Liverpool, the captain had a point to prove. The Argentinian responded with a dominant display and led by example in how he demanded the ball in midfield. Unfortunate to be denied a rare goal as his thunderous effort was tipped over by Bartosz Dragowski. Rested late on as Casadei came on.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 7
Played his part in the opener with a clever lofted ball to Felix, although there is a clear lack of defensive awareness in his game and he left that responsibility to Fernandez and the inverted Cucurella.
Saw plenty of the ball as he combined well with Felix but nothing really came off the £54m summer signing in the first 45. Whatever Maresca said at half time worked, laying a fine cross on a plate for Mudryk, to show what he is capable of. Rested on the hour.
Joao Felix 9
The Portuguese looked fired up as he pressed high and committed a number of early fouls. He silenced the home fans with a sublime finish for the opener and benefited from a heavy deflection for the second. A lively display overall, raising questions as to why Felix hasn’t been given a start in the Premier League yet.
Mykhaylo Mudryk 9
Not even included in the squad at the weekend, the Ukrainian staked his claim for a starting spot with a fine performance. The 23-year-old later set up Felix with a clever assist – his third in four starts this season. And in the second half, Mudryk showed a real desire to get on the end of Neto’s cross and head home his first goal of the season.
Christopher Nkunku 6
The Frenchman struggled to get involved in the early stages of the game and wasn’t too fussed about pressing from the front. A disappointing lack of effort, when Maresca clearly wants more from him. Took his penalty well and now has four goals in continental competition.
SUBS
Tyrique George (on 61′) 7
Lively cameo from the 18-year-old as he was full of running and tested the goalkeeper with a shot on target. Very promising.
Marc Guiu (on 61′) 6
Squandered his chance to set up a team-mate and was on the periphery.
Cesare Casadei (on 71′) 6
Another chance to impress as he replaced Fernandez and looked tidy in possession.
Carney Chukwuemeka (on 77′) N/A
