Rating the Chelsea Players in 2-0 Win over AC Milan

Chelsea made it five wins from five in preseason to reach the final of the Guinness International Champions Cup. A 2-0 win over AC Milan in New Jersey means that Jose Mourinho will face his former club Real Madrid in the final on Wednesday August 7 in Miami.

The Blues started the brighter and Kevin De Bruyne’s second preseason goal gave them the lead. Milan began to dominate possession and had a few chances before Andre Schurrle’s first goal for Chelsea confirmed the result in second-half stoppage time.

Here are the ratings for the Blues players who played at least 20 minutes of the match.

Starting XI

Petr Cech 7/10

Cech captained the side in the first half and made a good save from a Sulley Muntari strike to keep the score at 0-0. Although Milan had the majority of the possession in the first half, Cech was not too busy as Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic both had excellent games at centre-half.

Cesar Azpilicueta 7/10

Cesar “Dave” Azpilicueta started the match at right-back, having been told that he will share his position with Ivanovic next season. He made a few good bursting runs down the right and almost set up Demba Ba with a trademark long throw, but the striker could only head the ball straight at Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal.

Branislav Ivanovic 8/10

Ivanovic started the game at centre-half before moving out to the right at halftime. He had a chance to open the scoring after two minutes with a cheeky back-heeled shot which Abbiati did well to hold onto. Although he was booked after 18 minutes, he was one of only two players to complete the full 90 minutes, and his partnership with Cahill was key to Chelsea’s victory.

Gary Cahill 9/10

Cahill had a fantastic game, making several vital blocks to keep a clean sheet for the Blues. His performance when partnered with John Terry in the second half was particularly impressive, and should ease any worries that Mourinho may have had about his defence ahead of the new season.

Ryan Bertrand 7/10

Bertrand played a far more defensive game than he is used to. With Eden Hazard and De Bruyne providing width further up the pitch, his opportunities to roam forward were limited. However, he carried out his defensive duties in a calm, efficient manner.

Marco Van Ginkel 8/10

Chelsea’s newest signing partnered Michael Essien in the midfield hole and showed exactly why the Blues were so eager to acquire his services. His astute anticipation and well-timed tackles made things difficult for Milan, and if he can maintain this momentum he could be the first-choice box-to-box midfielder for the Blues in no time at all.

Michael Essien 7/10

Essien was on man-marking duties as the second holding midfielder. He kept Nigel De Jong in his pocket for much of the first half and proved that he is able to adapt his game to fit in with his advancing age.

Oscar 7.5/10

Oscar’s stunning strike against Inter Milan earned him a place in the starting 11, and he had two chances to score inside the first 10 minutes. Although he failed to find the net in this match, his passing and movement were as sharp as ever.

Kevin De Bruyne 8.5/10

De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 26th minute when he finished off a quick Chelsea counter-attack with style and skill. His pace and trickery bamboozled Milan time and again, and the connection he has with his international teammate Eden Hazard will prove key for the 2013-14 season.

Eden Hazard 8/10

The talent that Hazard has at his disposal is unreal. Throughout the first half he displayed the skills that delighted fans last season, and he played a key part in the build-up to the opening goal.

Demba Ba 6.5/10

Ba worked tirelessly throughout the first half in search of a goal, and although his finishing was lacking a little, his effort and work-rate showed that he will be vital to the depth of the squad.

Second-Half Substitutes

Mark Schwarzer 7/10

Schwarzer came on for Cech at halftime and was relatively untroubled in the Chelsea goal. He misread a cross from M'Baye Niang and was relieved when Antonio Nocerino’s header went wide.

John Terry 8/10

Terry put in a typical solid performance in his second-half stint alongside Cahill. He made a few last-ditch challenges to maintain Chelsea’s clean sheet and made several blocks as he led the side to victory.

Ashley Cole 7/10

Cole did not venture forward as frequently as he has become accustomed too, as the midfielders in front of him provided plenty of width. This allowed him to focus on his defensive skills, and he put in a display befitting his veteran status.

Ramires 7/10

Ramires showed why Mourinho has so much confidence in him when he replaced Essien at halftime. He brought even more pace and allowed The Special One to see what damage can be inflicted with two box-to-box midfielders before Van Ginkel was substituted for John Obi Mikel on 65 minutes.

John Obi Mikel 6/10

Mikel played as the defensive midfielder in the holding role. With Ramires popping up here, there and everywhere, Mikel struggled to make any real impact in the time he was on the pitch.

Juan Mata 8/10

Mata replaced Oscar at halftime and gave Chelsea an air of control in the second half. He linked up well with fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres as he showed off the sublime skills that we have come to expect from him.

Victor Moses 8/10

Moses showed his worth as an impact substitute as his strength and pace caused the Milan defence all sorts of problems. He got the assist for Schurrle’s first Chelsea goal and was unlucky not to get his own name on the scoresheet.

Fernando Torres 7/10

Torres played 40 minutes of the second half and had a few chances to score. His partnership with Juan Mata showed real promise, and it is now down to his fitness and confidence to decide how he will perform next season.

Andre Schurrle 8.5/10

Schurrle has proven what all the fuss was about in the five preseason games so far, and he capped off his 20-minute cameo with his first goal for the club, a well-taken half-volley into the bottom corner.

With a 100 percent win record in preseason to date, and some excellent team performances to back up the scorelines, Chelsea look to be a formidable force ahead of the 2013-14 season.