Man Utd vs Chelsea player ratings: Blues breeze into FA Cup final

 

Chelsea looked by far the fitter of the two teams in the FA Cup semi-final as they secured a 3-1 win over Manchester United to book a meeting with London rivals Arsenal in next month's final. 

 

Here, we look at the top performers from the enounter at Wembley... 

 

Manchester United - 6.14 

 

David De Gea - 6.22: A surprise inclusion for Manchester United as he made his first FA Cup start of the season with Sergio Romero relegated to the bench. Denied Reece James' powerful drive in the 10th minute and got the ball away from danger in the process. Perhaps should have done better for Olivier Giroud's opening goal and certainly should have saved Mason Mount's effort less than a minute into the second half. 

 

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 5.94: Misjudged a Cesar Azpilicueta cross to the back post that Marcos Alonso headed over. Picked out an unmarked Harry Maguire well as Manchester United sought to half the deficit, but the centre-back's header was easy for Willy Caballero. Misjudged a simple pass that rolled out for a Chelsea throw in on the hour mark that all but summed up his performance. 

 

Victor Lindelof - 5.84: Beaten to Cesar Azpilicueta's low cross by Olivier Giroud far too easily as he was caught ball watching for Chelsea's opening goal. Given his good form alongside Harry Maguire this season, the Swede put in an underwhelming performance at the back. 

 

Eric Bailly - 6.60: Continued his FA Cup starting trend, featuring from the outset for the third time in the competition this season as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer changed shape to accomodate the Ivorian. Clashed heads with Kurt Zouma late in the first half as he put pressure on the Chelsea centre-back that saw the Frenchman direct his header off target. Forced off on the stroke of half time with a head injury after a coming together with Harry Maguire.  

 

Harry Maguire - 5.79: Solid in the opening 45 minutes, but a clash of heads of Eric Bailly left the Manchester United captain needing to be bandaged up. Should have scored a couple of headers after the restart, the second of which was a glaring miss, and his own goal in the final 15 minutes compounded a miserable evening. 

 

Brandon Williams - 5.79: Deputising for the injured Luke Shaw, Chelsea targetted the teenager in the first half as Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta doubled up on the 19-year-old. Gave the ball away cheaply for Chelsea's second as the Blues continued to pile the pressure on the young left-back.  

 

Fred - 6.39: In the side with Paul Pogba rested, the Brazilian started brightly, but faded prior to his withdrawal early in the second half. Completed two of Manchester United's four dribbles prior to coming off. 

 

Nemanja Matic - 6.39: Struggled to assert his dominance in the middle of the park, making just one tackle in the 90 minutes, as he failed to cope with the movement of the Chelsea frontline. 

 

Bruno Fernandes - 7.17: Endured a quiet opening half hour, though that is to be expected given the number of changes in the Manchester United XI. Tested Willy Caballero with a free-kick 20 yards from goal with 30 minutes on the clock. After being moved a little further forward, he looked more influential in the final third. Cooly coverted a penalty late on, but that proved to be a consolation. 

 

Marcus Rashford - 5.77: Kept in the starting XI as Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial dropped to the bench. Managed two shots, but he looked lost without Greenwood and Martial in support. 

 

Daniel James - 5.99: Back in the starting XI for the first time since a sub-par showing in Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Tottenham. Did little to convince he warrants a regular starting spot in place of Mason Greenwood, who replaced the Welshman 10 minutes into the second half.  

 

Subs 

 

Anthony Martial - 6.00, Paul Pogba - 6.06, Mason Greenwood - 5.99, Odion Ighalo - 6.39, Timothy Fosu-Mensah - 6.13 

 

Man Utd vs Chelsea player ratings: Blues breeze into FA Cup final

 

Chelsea - 6.88 

 

Willy Caballero - 6.57: Endured a fairly quiet opening hour to the FA Cup semi-final, but was under more pressure once Manchester United brought on they first team regulars and came close to conceding as he flapped at a corner that Harry Maguire should have scored from. Sent the wrong way for Bruno Fernandes' penalty late on. 

 

Reece James - 7.62: Forced David De Gea into a save with 10 minutes on the clock as he had time to let fly from 25 yards, stinging the palms of the Manchester United goalkeeper. Got forward and attacked Brandon Williams well, completing three dribbles in the process. 

 

Cesar Azpilicueta - 7.35: Given the chance to push on down the right and team up with Reece James down the Chelsea flank. Almost paid dividends early on as he picked out Marcos Alonso at the back post. Got the assist for the Blues' opener as he picked out Olivier Giroud's near post run. 

 

Kurt Zouma - 6.53: Did really well to get on the end of a deflected Mason Mount cross, but couldn't direct his header goalbound after some Eric Bailly pressure. Somewhat fortunate not to give away penalty shortly before the break after a mix up in defence as Anthony Martial sought to capitalise on a Bruno Fernandes punt up field. 

 

Antonio Rudiger - 6.44: His pressure forced Harry Maguire into scoring an own goal to put Chelsea 3-0 up, yet on another day, Manchester United would have gotten the better of the German, who wasn't exactly at his best. 

 

Marcos Alonso - 7.18: Headed over on 15 minutes when picked out excellently by Cesar Azpilicueta as he leapt above Aaron Wan-Bissaka at the back post. Perhaps should have done better. Got forward well over the course of the game and was duly rewarded as his low cross forced Harry Maguire into an own goal with 15 minutes to play. 

 

Willian - 7.19: Heavily involved in Chelsea's attacking phase as the Blues maximised the right flank in the first half. The trio of the Brazilian, Reece James and Cesar Azpilicueta combined well in the opening 45 minutes. Disrupted United's defence and midfield as he made two tackles and one interception in another solid display.

 

Jorginho - 6.96: Not his most controlling performance by any stretch, but did enough on the ball to help Chelsea dictate play in the middle of the park.  

 

Mateo Kovacic - 7.28: Drove forward with the ball well from deep, completing four dribbles, and while he didn't have a direct hand in a goal, he ensured Chelsea dominated the midfield battle as he affected the game positively for the Blues prior to his late withdrawal.  

 

Mason Mount - 8.23: Went for precision over power when presented with a goalscoring chance shortly after the half hour mark, but it was a comfortable save for David De Gea. He did get his goal early in the second half, though, with the Spaniard spilling his low drive into the back of the net. Did enough to warrant the man of the match award.

 

Olivier Giroud - 8.11: Worked tirelessly to trouble the Manchester United defence in the first half and was rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half time as he beat Victor Lindelof to Cesar Azpilicueta's low cross. He is yet to lose an FA Cup match he has scored in, with his record now standing at 12 for 12.  

 

Subs 

 

Ruben Loftus Cheek - 6.17, Callum Hudson-Odoi - 5.55, Tammy Abraham - 5.97, Pedro - 6.10

Man Utd vs Chelsea player ratings: Blues breeze into FA Cup final