Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner were both named in Garth Crooks’ team of the week after Chelsea thrashed Southampton 6-0 on Saturday. The duo have both staked their claim to start the Blues’ Champions League quarter final second leg at Real Madrid on Wednesday, with impressive performances on the south coast.
The west London outfit slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Los Blancos in midweek and were soundly beaten by Brentford last weekend but bounced back in impressive fashion at St Mary's. Rudiger in particular was in imperious form to help the Blues keep a much needed clean sheet ahead of Tuesday’s trip to the Bernabeu, and Crooks hailed the German defender’s sensational display.
"The most impressive feature about this Chelsea performance was their clean sheet," Crooks told BBC Sport. "Any defence that has conceded seven goals in two matches will have had their confidence badly shaken.
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"Antonio Rudiger hasn't flinched for Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel brought him back into the side on his arrival at the club. Rudiger played in the defeats against Brentford and Real Madrid but returned against Southampton fearless and unconcerned about what had taken place days before. Southampton never got a sniff."
Werner netted a brace against the Saints, he also hit both posts and the crossbar in what was one his best all-round displays for the Blues since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2020. And Crooks believes the German may have given Thomas Tuchel a selection headache ahead of the showdown with Real, with the Blues in desperate need of goals to turn the tie around.
"I don't think I have ever seen a striker who has hit the woodwork as often as Timo Werner," he added.
"I've seen him do it on numerous occasions in previous matches and he hit the frame of the goals three times against Southampton before he helped himself to a calmly taken double. Werner hasn't had an easy time since joining Chelsea but he has persevered and got his rewards as a consequence.
"Whether this performance can inspire the same sort of victory against Real Madrid in the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final remains to be seen."
