Tottenham player ratings vs Chelsea: Gollini blunders, Lo Celso rusty, Doherty no threat

IKIMAGES/AFP via Getty Images
Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP12 January 2022

Tottenham lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, as the Blues reached Wembley with a 3-0 win on aggregate.

Antonio Rudiger scored the only goal after a mistake by stand-in goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and Spurs were frustrated after the VAR overruled the referee’s decision to award them two penalties, and disallowed a Harry Kane goal for offside.

Replays showed all three decisions were correct, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg outside the area when caught by Rudiger, Kepa Arrizabalaga winning the ball from Lucas Moura and Kane fractionally offside before scoring.

Dan Kilpatrick was at White Hart Lane to rate the Spurs players...

Pierluigi Gollini 4

Made a costly error for Rudiger’s goal, racing off his line but failing to connect with Mason Mount’s corner. The error effectively killed the tie. Earlier, stood up well to save from Romelu Lukaku.

Japhet Tanganga 5

Again looked uncomfortable with and without the ball, particularly when pressed, but not guilty of any glaring errors this time.

Davinson Sanchez 6

Coped well 1v1 against Lukaku, often sweeping up behind, but never at ease with the ball at his feet. Headed narrowly wide in the first half.

Ben Davies 6

Outmuscled by Lukaku for an early Chelsea chance. Got forward well in the second half, adding some natural width to the left flank.

Emerson Royal 5

Squandered a number of good positions, including with an unconvincing touch and finish after being sent behind by Lucas. Headed at Kepa in the second half. Ultimately, not athletic enough and lacking a final ball.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 6

Involved in Spurs’ most positive moments, including the first overruled penalty and Kane’s disallowed goal, when he won the ball from Jorginho. Lacked poise.

Harry Winks 6

Always looking for the ball and put in some dangerous crosses, even if he often tried too hard to force an opening. Looks a good fit for the five-man midfield.

Matt Doherty 4

Offered no threat down the left flank, frequently cutting inside on his right foot and slowing down attacks. Having struggled at Stamford Bridge, his selection again was strange.

Giovani Lo Celso 5

Put himself about but looked horribly rusty and his passes were often under-hit or wayward. There’s obviously a player there but he’s been out of sorts for far too long.

Lucas Moura 6

No faulting his effort in an energetic display, and he was involved in two of the incidents checked by VAR. Final ball sometimes missing, although played in Kane and Royal with well-weighted passes.

Harry Kane 5

Found it difficult to make headway against Rudiger and Andreas Christensen but unfortunate to see his goal ruled out for a marginal offside.

Substitutes

Ryan Sessegnon (Doherty 64’) 6

Added more natural width than Doherty and nearly scored with a late effort, which was well blocked.

Bryan Gil (Lo Celso 71’) 6

A few nice touches at No10 but couldn’t help Spurs find a breakthrough.

Oliver Skipp (Winks 81’) N/A

Not used: Lloris, Rodon, Paskotsi, White, Alli, Scarlett.

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