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Chelsea 0-1 Leicester City: FA Cup final player ratings

Jacob Steinberg at Wembley
·4-min read
<span>Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian</span>
Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Chelsea (3-4-2-1)

Kepa Arrizabalaga The £71.6m Spaniard was preferred in goal to Édouard Mendy but he stood no chance with Leicester’s goal. He barely had anything else to do. 6

Reece James A surprise choice in the back three. Chelsea missed his crosses from wing-back and he was at fault for Leicester’s goal, when he gave the ball away. 5

Related: Leicester City win first FA Cup after Youri Tielemans screamer sinks Chelsea

Thiago Silva The Brazilian veteran cruised through the first half and looked unruffled. It was a different story when Leicester increased the tempo during the second half. 6

Antonio Rüdiger The German was strong in the tackle and had a decent game. However someone needs to tell him to stop shooting from long range. 6

Cesar Azpilicueta Thomas Tuchel got this one wrong. Although the captain was a steady presence, he offered no threat going forward and had to be taken off. 5

N’Golo Kanté The midfielder was typically dynamic against his old team, driving forward and snapping in to win the ball. He was one of Chelsea’s better performers. 7

Jorginho The Italian appeared to be over his inexplicable aberration against Arsenal. Yet it was too easy for Leicester to break through midfield for their goal. 6

Marcos Alonso The defender tried hard to provide width and bite on the left. However he struggled to make an impact before making way for Ben Chilwell. 5

Hakim Ziyech The Moroccan played some cute passes and tried to create, but he needed to be more incisive. It was not a surprise to see him substituted. 5

Mason Mount The midfielder caught the eye with some brilliant early touches. He shot just wide and created openings. Yet he faded in the second half. 6

Timo Werner The striker struggled to break behind Leicester’s defence and was erratic when he found space in the final third. Tuchel looked decidedly unimpressed with him. 4

Subs: Christian Pulisic: 6. Ben Chilwell: The defender almost scored the equaliser against his old side and was involved in VAR drama 6. Kai Havertz: Went close with a firm shot 6. Callum Hudson-Odoi: 6 Olivier Giroud: 6

Chelsea’s Mason Mount sees Kasper Schmeichel save his late shot
Chelsea’s Mason Mount sees Kasper Schmeichel save his late shot. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Leicester (3-4-2-1)

Kasper Schmeichel The Dane was not called into action until Leicester were ahead, at which point he excelled himself with superb saves to deny Mount and Chilwell. 8

Wesley Fofana The young Frenchman made a good block to deny Werner and grew into the contest after being booked. He is such an exciting talent. 8

Jonny Evans The defender tried to battle through the pain but it was a sad moment when his heel injury forced him off in the first half. 6

Caglar Soyuncu The centre-back made an uncertain start and was indebted to VAR for disallowing Chelsea’s equaliser. However he stood up to be counted after Evans departed. 7

Related: Bravura Leicester make Wembley erupt in a huge, hot wall of sound | Barney Ronay

Timothy Castagne The wing-back looked to have the beating of Alonso and created an early chance. He continued to shine after he moved into the back three. 7

Wilfred Ndidi The Nigerian is evidence of Leicester’s intelligence in the transfer market. He had another strong game in central midfield and gave his side impressive balance. 8

Youri Tielemans The Belgian was outstanding. He was dangerous on the ball, strong in the tackle and the scorer of a truly wonderful goal. What a performance. 9

Luke Thomas The youngster looked unfazed after his fine goal against Manchester United. His defending was assured and he played the pass to Tielemans for the winner. 8

Ayoze Pérez The Spaniard had a frustrating first half, wasting some decent positions, but it was his sharp block on James’s pass that led to the winner. 7

Kelechi Iheanacho The striker has had an excellent season but he was ineffective here. He struggled to hold the ball up before making way for James Maddison. 5

Jamie Vardy: The striker yearned for that one big opportunity. He had two sighters in the first half. Yet Chelsea kept him quiet for long spells. 6

Subs: Marc Albrighton: The experienced winger came on for Evans and did well at wing-back 6. James Maddison: 6. Hamza Choudhury: 6. Wes Morgan: The veteran was relieved when VAR cancelled out his own-goal for offside against Chilwell 6.