Chelsea player ratings: Pedro put in near perfect performance for Chelsea but Kepa endured a nervy night
CHELSEA progress through to the Europa League semi-finals after seeing off Czech outfit Slavia Prague in what was a Stamford Bridge thriller.
The Blues made hard work of it on the night winning 4-3 – despite building an early three goal advantage.
Maurizio Sarri's men now turn their attention to Burnley in the league on Monday as they chase a top four position.
Here's how SunSport rated and slated the Chelsea players performances against Prague tonight.
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA
Produced a stunning save with his feet to prevent Simon Deli from close range. But Slavia’s first goal, seconds later, saw Kepa rooted to the spot as the ball arrowed past him. The Spaniard is not helped by the poor protection in front of him.
CESAR AZPILICUETA
Played a delicious one-two which led to Pedro’s opening goal but was part of a Chelsea back-four that capitulated in the second-half. Slavia targeted Blues’ right and the captain couldn’t handle the physicality at times.
DAVID LUIZ
Without Antonio Rudiger, Luiz is the senior member of this defence, but it doesn’t show. He lacked the leadership and organisational skills necessary in what should have been a straight forward win.
ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN
In for the injured Rudiger, the Danish defender struggled with the aerial threat of the Czechs and was bullied by their physicality. Chelsea looked vulnerable at set pieces but faced little quality.
EMERSON
Replaced the injured Marcos Alonso at left-back and was regularly caught out of possession by the adventurous Tomas Soucek. Expect Alonso to be back in soon.
N'GOLO KANTE
Against such inferior opposition, the Frenchman showed why Sarri is so disinclined to play him in the defensive role. Kante counter-attacked on Slavia with such ferocity but his through ball for Chelsea’s third was inch-perfect.
KOVACIC
Playing in the Jorginho role and the Croatian little more in the way of defensive cover. A few unnecessary fouls and Kovacic was unable to control the tempo of the game in the same way as his team-mate.
ROSS BARKLEY
Once again hooked before 70 minutes, the midfielder was like the rest of his team. Impressive in the first half but went missing in the second when they needed him.
PEDRO
Bar missing from just two yards in the lead up to the second, this was almost a perfect performance. The Spaniard started and finished Chelsea’s glorious first, unselfishly teed up Giroud for the third, and knocked in his second inside half-an-hour.
EDEN HAZARD
Slavia Prague promised war and Hazard felt it. Beaten, battered and bruised as he took reducer after reducer, but the brilliant Belgian was not bullied from the game. Taken off for his own good in the second half.
OLIVIER GIROUD
World Cup winner Giroud backed up his demands to Sarri for more game time with an authoritative performance up front. He held up the play brilliantly and was involved in all four goals, deserving of a starting spot in the Premier League.
SUBS
WILLIAN (for Hazard)
Brought an energy and pace that Chelsea desperately needed in the second half to stretch Slavia.
JORGINHO (for Barkley)
Tried to bring a sense of control to the Blues midfield but failed as the Czech onslaught continued.
CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI (for Pedro)
The rising English star did not get the minutes required to make a huge impact but looked to have energy on the right hand side.
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