Jose Mourinho’s side breezed past a poor Galatasaray side to book a place in the Champions League last eight after goals from Samuel Eto’o and Gary Cahill.
Chelsea sealed a place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night as first-half goals from Samuel Eto’o and Gary Cahill saw the Premier League leaders ease past a woeful Galatasaray outfit.
Jose Mourinho’s charges were well worth their comfortable victory and could now face the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Real Madrid in the next round of the competition.
After watching the Blues in action, we rate their performance player by player:
Petr Cech 6
The Blues shot-stopper had nothing to do for the entirety of the contest but had to keep his wits about him to thwart former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba in stoppage time.
Branislav Ivanovic 6
Proved a useful outlet for his side on the right flank and was reliable enough to combat the threat posed by Burak Yilmaz when called upon defensively. Delivered a series of crosses and was constantly looking to drive his side on.
Gary Cahill 7
Took his goal with aplomb and was equally as brutal in his defensive work, making Drogba’s task an impossible one in the face of incessant pressure from the central defender. Won everything aerially and was impenetrable on the ground too.
John Terry 7
With Cahill in such commanding form, it allowed Terry to step out of defence and initiate Chelsea attacks from the base position of the team. Won the header from which Cahill profited to double the Blues’ advantage.
Cesar Azpilicueta 8
The Spaniard was superb, showing the steely resolve he has become synonymous with but also offered an attacking option to Hazard et al on the left-hand side as he grabbed his opportunity to display his talents heading forward. Went close with a curling second-half strike which flew inches wide.
Ramires 5
One of the only poor performers in an otherwise faultless and comfortable outing for Mourinho’s men with his passing particularly poor. It was a game which he could afford to grab by the scruff of the neck with Gala failing to make inroads heading forward but simply didn’t pose Felipe Melo enough of a threat.
Frank Lampard 7
The true driving force from midfield, making late surges into the area to meet centres and showing pace in midfield that Ramires failed to. Lampard has had to harness a more defensive mindset as he ages but he showed plenty of youthful exuberance in dictating the tempo of the game from central areas.
Willian 6
Showed some lovely tricks and flicks and fits into Mourinho’s blueprint so perfectly with his all-action style, showing just as much ambition in getting forwards as he did heading back to help out Ivanovic. Did not always make the right choice with the ball in the crucial positions, with that in mind.
Oscar 7
Another wonderful showing from the Brazilian, who tackled, passed and strived to offer support in the final third all evening long. Effervescent in his movement and consistent with his distribution, he always seemed to make the right decision in the final third. Grabbed an assist for the opening goal for good measure.
Eden Hazard 9
The star man yet again and his brilliant form only begs the question, just where would this team be without him? His presence of mind on the ball in taking on defenders, picking out passes and releasing shots on goal made his endeavours look so effortless and classy. Deserved to score.
Samuel Eto’o 7
The Cameroonian fought hard against his international compatriot Aurelien Chedjou all evening and win the battle with ease. He placed himself firmly in the ascendency as early as the fourth minute, but showed no signs of letting up as he probed and ran wide into the channels to stretch the back four.
Substitutes:
Andre Schürrle 6
The German looked frustrated not to receive the ball when he found himself in space having replaced Oscar late on but was full of running and ideas when Chelsea were on the attack.
Fernando Torres 6
Squandered a brilliant chance to grab what would have been a deserved third goal for his side when he selfishly elected to shoot rather than play in Schürrle but gave the Gala defenders a torrid last few minutes.
Tomas Kalas 5
Had no time to make an impact on the game, arriving in the final minute of stoppage time.
Do you agree with our ratings? If not, let us know what you think the players deserved?
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