{"id":11023,"date":"2026-05-19T23:44:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11023"},"modified":"2026-05-19T23:44:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:44:07","slug":"chelsea-2-1-tottenham-player-ratings-who-was-the-hosts-best-player-which-spurs-star-let-the-game-pass-them-by-who-was-deservedly-congratulated-by-team-mates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=11023","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham PLAYER RATINGS: Who was the hosts&#8217; best player? Which Spurs star let the game pass them by? Who was deservedly congratulated by team-mates?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Tottenham missed the chance to secure their Premier League status after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, who boosted their hopes for European qualification.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring from distance for the Blues, with the Argentine&#8217;s strike from range finding the bottom corner of Antonin Kinsky&#8217;s goal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Tottenham had earlier gone close when Mathys Tel saw a header come back off the post. <\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Chelsea doubled their advantage in the second half with Andrey Santos poking in from close range after\u00a0Randal Kolo Muani cheaply gave up possession.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Roberto De Zerbi&#8217;s side pulled one back with Richarlison finishing at the back post to reduce the deficit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Tottenham saw late appeals for a penalty waved away and will now head into the final day two points above West Ham. Chelsea moved up to eighth and will hope to secure European football on Sunday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Daily Mail Sport&#8217;s Kieran Gill rates the players at Stamford Bridge. <\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-73a0d325e9b50a93\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/19\/23\/108732383-15831493-image-a-45_1779228040134.jpg\" height=\"453\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Enzo Fernandez scored from range as Chelsea earned a 2-1 win over Tottenham\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Enzo Fernandez scored from range as Chelsea earned a 2-1 win over Tottenham<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-396b721eba80a496\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/19\/22\/108732009-15831493-image-a-33_1779226414156.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Tottenham face a nervy final day of the season after passing up the chance to seal Premier League safety\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Tottenham face a nervy final day of the season after passing up the chance to seal Premier League safety<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"mol-para-with-font mol-style-subhead\">CHELSEA<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Robert Sanchez \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Saved by his post when Tel\u2019s close-range header seemed destined to give Spurs an early lead. Long ball led to Chelsea\u2019s opener. See \u2013 you don\u2019t only score via passing from the back! Not helped by his defence when Richarlison tapped in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Josh Acheampong \u2013 7<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">First Premier League start since February 10. Grateful that Tel headed that chance into the woodwork from behind him. Had Chelsea\u2019s bench standing up to applaud him when the academy graduate pocketed his man.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Wesley Fofana \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Levi Colwill was absent \u2013 having his minutes managed after completing the full FA Cup final \u2013 so Fofana started. Rushed to tell Gallagher what\u2019s what after the former Chelsea midfielder caught Caicedo in the face.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Jorrel Hato \u2013 7.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Produced a match-winning sliding block to stop Maddison scoring a certain equaliser as a substitute. He deserved the congratulations he received from his team-mates.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-59afd801134a535a\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/19\/22\/108731985-15831493-image-a-30_1779226222882.jpg\" height=\"438\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Jorrel Hato produced a match winning tackle to deny James Maddison late on in the match\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Jorrel Hato produced a match winning tackle to deny James Maddison late on in the match<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Marc Cucurella \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Left back on paper, but on this pitch, his pushing up to overlap Fernandez meant he was often more of a left winger. However, his poor header gifted Spurs possession for their goal, and was possibly fortunate not to give away a penalty for dragging down Van de Ven.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Moises Caicedo \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sent flying into the air by Van de Ven, but Caicedo, as we know, is indestructible. Got up and got on with it. Fortunate that his clumsy stoppage-time foul on Gallagher did not cost his team as Maddison ballooned over his free-kick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Andrey Santos \u2013 7<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">One lovely-timed tackle killed a Tottenham counter and set up a Chelsea attack in one go. Doubled their lead by tapping in Fernandez\u2019s ball back into the six-yard box.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Pedro Neto \u2013 5.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A small part to play in Chelsea\u2019s opener by squaring the ball to Fernandez for his firecracker. Had the home crowd on his back when he didn\u2019t try taking on his man, instead playing safe passes backwards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Cole Palmer \u2013 6.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Thomas Tuchel names his England squad on Friday, and Palmer looked determined to use this last chance to impress early on, including being involved in Fernandez\u2019s opener. Curled attempt was nice, stopped from going in only by Kinsky. Dragged another from distance wide.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-6c80ccda6437de83\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/19\/22\/108731993-15831493-image-a-31_1779226261607.jpg\" height=\"423\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Fernandez scored a superb opener for Chelsea and was their best player on the night\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Fernandez scored a superb opener for Chelsea and was their best player on the night<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Enzo Fernandez \u2013 8<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">What a glorious 30-yard goal it was to make it 1-0, whipped so hard that Kinsky did not come close. Sent the ball into the crossbar from a wide free-kick. Assisted Santos for his tap-in for 2-0. Wore the captain\u2019s armband, and was their best player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Liam Delap \u2013 5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Joao Pedro had a knock, so here was a rare start for Delap. Just a battering ram, really. Spence may wake up with a shiner in the morning after receiving one whack from Chelsea\u2019s striker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">SUBS USED<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Trevoh Chalobah (for Acheampong, 74) \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">On for the final 15 minutes to try to see through the win for Chelsea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Mamadou Sarr (for Fofana, 81) \u2013 N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Dario Essugo (for Palmer, 89) \u2013 N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Alejandro Garnacho (for Neto, 89) \u2013 N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Shim Mhueka (for Delap, 89) \u2013 N\/A<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">MANAGER (INTERIM)<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Calum McFarlane \u2013 7<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Spurs may have started strong, but McFarlane\u2019s tactics worked, including the way he used Fernandez and Cucurella.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mol-para-with-font mol-style-subhead\">TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1)<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Antonin Kinsky \u2013 5.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Should he have done better with Fernandez\u2019s 30-yard wallop? At first glance, we thought so, but it was swerving somewhat. Diving save denied Palmer a rare goal from distance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Pedro Porro \u2013 5.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Porro did wonder whether he should go close down Fernandez, but then got distracted by the overlapping Cucurella, and so nobody was in the way to block that banger. Involved in Spurs getting a goal back for 2-1 as he picked up possession in the build-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Kevin Danso \u2013 5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Had Delap nipping at his heels throughout, though Chelsea\u2019s striker hardly offers much of a threat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Micky van de Ven \u2013 5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Could he have spotted Santos earlier as he tapped in Chelsea\u2019s second untroubled? Probably. Insisted he deserved a penalty after Cucurella dragged him down in the box. The referee cautioned the Blues defender, but simply ordered the corner to be retaken.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Destiny Udogie \u2013 5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Tried to get forward, but once there, Chelsea graduate Acheampong usually had his number. Frustration saw him foul Fofana to earn an easy yellow card.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-f3bed31ee85bec3b\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/19\/22\/108732077-15831493-image-a-34_1779226768195.jpg\" height=\"422\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Conor Gallagher was booed by Chelsea fans on his first return to Stamford Bridge\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Conor Gallagher was booed by Chelsea fans on his first return to Stamford Bridge<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Rodrigo Bentancur \u2013 5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Repeatedly had Caicedo as a shadow when he was searching to receive the ball from his defenders. The game passed him by, in truth. Never tried to make it his own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Joao Palhinha \u2013 4.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Have to wonder why Fernandez was always so much space to shoot with Palhinha finding himself stranded towards the touchline rather than in a central position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Randal Cole Muani \u2013 4<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Dear oh dear. Just when it looked as if Spurs were on top \u2013 and De Zerbi had a triple substitution waiting on the touchline \u2013 his loose pass gifted Chelsea possession to go make it 2-0.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Conor Gallagher \u2013 4.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Two years ago before a 2-0 win versus Spurs, Chelsea fans were unveiling a gigantic banner for him here. Now booed upon his return, especially when he and Cucurella had handbags.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Mathys Tel \u2013 4<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Nearly signed for Chelsea last summer. Headed into the post when he should have been scoring. Sent another shot into orbit which delighted the Matthew Harding Stand.<\/p>\n<div class=\"artSplitter mol-img-group\" style=\"style\">\n<div class=\"mol-img\">\n<div class=\"image-wrap\"> <img decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-be82bdc5cdf3cdec\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/19\/22\/108732013-15831493-image-a-32_1779226392473.jpg\" height=\"441\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Kolo Muani's dreadful pass gifted Chelsea possession, leading to the Blues doubling their lead\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" style=\"max-width:100%\" loading=\"lazy\" \/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Kolo Muani&#8217;s dreadful pass gifted Chelsea possession, leading to the Blues doubling their lead<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Richarlison \u2013 5.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Sent wide a header as if his head were shaped like a 50-pence piece. The assistant\u2019s flag saved him some embarrassment. But he tapped in to make it 2-1 after Matar Sarr\u2019s backheeled set-up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">SUBS USED<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Pape Matar Sarr \u2013 6.5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Lovely backheel to set up Richarlison, to get a goal back for Tottenham.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">James Maddison \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Thought he was set to score the equaliser for 2-2 \u2013 then Hato appeared out of nowhere to deny him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Djed Spence \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Given a whack by Delap for his troubles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Manager<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Roberto De Zerbi \u2013 5<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">This was a big opportunity for Spurs \u2013 against a Chelsea side that had much of their side missing. They fumbled it, never capitalising on their early dominance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">REFEREE<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold\">Stuart Attwell \u2013 6<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Probably glad he did not have to referee another Battle of the Bridge. A few handbags here and there, but nothing overly aggressive for him to officiate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tottenham missed the chance to secure their Premier League status after suffering a 2-1 defeat&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11023"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11023\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}