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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Chelsea first half player ratings vs Charlotte: James sluggish, Ziyech sharp, Pulisic on target

Edouard Mendy

This was the Senegal international's first outing of pre-season and he showed excellent reflexes early on to stop a header from the unmarked Karol Swiderski. Mendy did need his post to bail him out later in the half when Yordy Reyna's effort took a nick off Reece James and struck the post. 6

Reece James

With Chelsea playing a back three in possession and a back four without the ball, James had plenty of work to do with his positioning. Perhaps that is why midway through the half, he was called over by Thomas Tuchel for a quick chat. James was solid with the ball but looked a little sluggish defensively. 6

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Thiago Silva

This was business as usual for Silva. Even though he spent much of the half in a back four rather than a back three, the 37-year-old was comfortable on the ball and was never pulled out of position. You get the feeling he could play a Premier League game tomorrow. 6

Emerson Palmieri

Given another outing at centre-back by Tuchel, Emerson produced one important early tackle to stop a forceful run forward by McKinze Gaines. The Italian didn't have too much work to do but it's unlikely Tuchel uses Emerson in the middle of a back four during the regular season. 6

Callum Hudson-Odoi

Used nominally at right wing-back, a position in which he rarely plays well, Hudson-Odoi struggled to make a real difference in the final third. He did drag an early shot wide but was too eager to pass off the ball to a teammate rather than attack the ageing legs of former Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs. 6

Mateo Kovacic

The Croatian's first outing of pre-season and he didn't miss a beat as he moved the ball forward at pace throughout the opening 45 minutes. Understandably given he is behind many of his teammates in terms of fitness, Kovacic looked a little leggy later in the half and his influence waned, although there was one eye-catching surge forward. 6

Jorginho

Another 45 minutes in the tank for the Italian, who has looked far fresher in Chelsea's opening pre-season fixtures than he did for much of the second half of the last campaign. Jorginho kept possession moving and was able to find Ziyech in the half space ahead of the back four on several occasions. 6

Marcos Alonso

Used in a hybrid left wing-back/left-back role, Alonso was able to get into the final third throughout the first half but didn't produce a cross that opened up the Charlotte backline. Defensively he wasn't tested, although he could've tucked in for Swiderski's early header. 5

Hakim Ziyech

The Moroccan started on the right of the Chelsea attack but had licence to drift across the pitch into space. Ziyech was the most creative presence in the first half as he fashioned opportunities for Michy Batshuayi, which was wasted due to a poor touch, and Christian Pulisic, who couldn't turn a cross towards goal. 7

Michy Batshuayi

Handed a rare Chelsea start – even in the context of pre-season – Batshuayi did little to convince those watching that he has a long-term future at Stamford Bridge. The Belgian did, however, have a hand in the Blues' opener as his deflected shot fell at the feet of Pulisic, who finished well. 5

Christian Pulisic

The poster boy of American football would have wanted to make an impact on home soil and it was at the half-hour mark that his moment arrived. Pulisic still had a little to do when Batshuayi's effort deflected into his path, but he stayed cool and found the bottom corner. 7

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