Thomas Tuchel's first game as Chelsea manager was one to forget as his new side were held to a 0-0 draw by Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea dominated possession but failed to create a clear cut opportunity, Ben Chilwell having the Blues' two best chances but sending a volley wide in the first half and blazing over in the second.
The Thomas Tuchel era at Chelsea begins. ?#CHEWOL pic.twitter.com/MrC2JPiRHG
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 27, 2021
Despite spending much of the game camped in their own half, Wolves had the best opening, though Pedro Neto could only scoop his effort onto the bar.
Let's try and recover from all that excitement and get into some player ratings.
CHELSEA
1. Goalkeepers & Defenders
Edouard Mendy (GK) - 5/10 - Didn't really have a save to make with Wolves rarely threatening.
Cesar Azpilicueta (CB) - 6/10 - Put in one searching cross in the second half and was the only Chelsea centre back with much license to roam forward.
Antonio Rudiger (CB) - 6/10 - Brought Patricio into a comfortable save after rising highest from a free kick in the first half. Had very little to do defensively.
Thiago Silva (CB) - 6/10 - Made a big challenge on halfway to dispossess Podence but otherwise rarely tested defensively.
2. Wing Backs & Midfielders
Callum Hudson-Odoi (RWB) - 7/10 - Delivery was on point and looked Chelsea's most adventurous, creative player with his willingness to run at players. Tracked back fantastically on the stroke of full time to make an important challenge and deny Dendoncker.
Jorginho (CM) - 6/10 - Kept Chelsea ticking over, rarely surrendering the ball as Chelsea dominated possession.
Mateo Kovacic (CM) - 7/10 - Razor sharp in possession as Chelsea dominated the ball. Picked out Havertz with a clever through ball in the build up to a big opportunity for Chilwell and bent an effort from the edge of the box narrowly wide.
Ben Chilwell (LWB) - 6/10 - Flashed a volley wide in the first half after meeting Hudson-Odoi's delivery at the back post, before blazing a golden opportunity over in the second half.
3. Forwards
Kai Havertz (FW) - 5/10 - Teed up Chilwell for Chelsea's best chance of the game with a perfectly weighted cut back. Flashes of quality but unable to have a telling impact on the game.
Olivier Giroud (ST) - 5/10 - Had half a sniff at goal in the second half, but failed to make a clean connection with a close range effort. Replaced with 14 minutes remaining after a relatively quiet evening.
Hakim Ziyech (FW) - 5/10 - Playing as an inside forward, produced a couple of fabulous cross field passes, but never really got in behind or asked any questions of the Wolves backline.
4. Substitutes
Tammy Abraham - 5/10
Christian Pulisic - 6/10
Mason Mount - 6/10
WOLVES
5. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Rui Patricio (GK) - 6/10 - Forced into a comfortable save from a first half Rudiger header and a stretching stop to deny Hudson-Odoi in the second half.
Willy Boly (CB) - 8/10 - Put in a big defensive shift as Wolves turned in a disciplined display and frustrated the Chelsea forward line, including a terrific clearance to keep out a teasing Mount cross.
Conor Coady (CB) - 7/10 - Expertly marshalled the Wolves backline as his side restricted Chelsea to very few opportunities - including a brave block to keep out Ziyech.
Max Kilman (CB) - 7/10 - Flung himself in front of anything and everything as Wolves turned in a resolute defensive performance.
6. Wing Backs & Midfielders
Nelson Semedo (RWB) - 7/10 - Pushed back by Chilwell to make a back five for much of the first half as Wolves stayed compact and frustrated Chelsea's forward line. Switched to left wing back at half time.
Leander Dendoncker (CM) - 6/10 - Arrived into the box late to head just over in the first half and produced a big block to keep out Havertz in the second half.
Ruben Neves (CM) - 5/10 - Blazed well over from a free kick on the edge of the box in the first half, but struggled to get hold of the ball as Chelsea dominated possession.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (LWB) - 5/10 - Like Semedo on the other flank, rarely ventured forward as part of a rigid Wolves back five. Was replaced at half time.
7. Forwards
Pedro Neto (FW) - 6/10 - Picked out Dendoncker to carve out Wolves' first sniff of goal in the first half and looked Wolves' most dangerous player with his turn of pace and raids forward. Clipped the cross bar with a marauding run forward and attempted scoop finish in the second half.
Daniel Podence (FW) - 5/10 - Effectively operating as a false nine but was largely left to feed off scraps. Combined well with Neto to set up Wolves' best opening of the game, and was replaced with 20 minutes remaining.
Adama Traore (FW) - 5/10 - Had a couple of forays forward but was otherwise relatively quiet as Wolves spent much of the game camped in their own half.
8. Substitutes
Ki-Jana Hoever - 6/10
Willian Jose - 5/10
Joao Moutinho - N/A
Source: 90min
