Full player ratings as timeless Giroud inspires Chelsea to 3-1 FA Cup semi-final win over Man Utd

Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup final with a commanding 3-1 semi-final win over Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

In a totally dominant display, the Blues found the net through Olivier Giroud, Mason Mount and a Harry Maguire own goal, although they were given a huge helping hand each time by a disastrous David De Gea performance between the sticks for United.

The Red Devils pulled a late goal back thanks to a Bruno Fernandes penalty, but they deserved nothing less than the humbling defeat they were served up by Frank Lampard’s men.

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So, how did the players rate at Wembley?

Manchester United

David De Gea – 2 – If you could accuse De Gea of being at fault for Giroud’s opener, there was absolutely no questioning his blame in Mount doubling the lead just after half-time. The Spaniard should have saved both efforts but allowed them to squirm past him, while he didn’t cover himself in glory for the third goal either. He looks absolutely broken as a goalkeeper.

Eric Bailly – 6 – Put in a no-nonsense defensive performance with three clearances and a tackle before being forced off shortly before half-time with a nasty head injury sustained in a collision with Harry Maguire.

Harry Maguire – 4 – Was out-run and out-battled by Chelsea’s forward line, while also beating beaten to the ball by Rudiger before diverting the ball into his own net for the third goal.

Victor Lindelof – 5 – Probably United’s most solid defender, although even he was beaten to the ball by Giroud for the opener, which tells you just how bad the Red Devils were.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 3 – Nobody is questioning Wan-Bissaka’s defensive capabilities but he’s an absolute disaster on the ball. The former Palace man completed just 71% of his passes before being withdrawn on 79 minutes while the number of times he miscontrolled simple passes will cause Solskjaer some serious alarm.

Fred – 6 – Tried his best to disrupt Chelsea’s possession with four tackles but was absolutely swamped by a dominant opposition midfield. Replaced by Pogba early into the second half as Solskjaer desperately looked to get United back into the game.

Nemanja Matic – 6 – Had his work cut out against a far more mobile Chelsea midfield but, like Fred, Matic did his level best to stem the flow.

Brandon Williams – 4 – Was arguably just as culpable for Mount’s goal as De Gea, inexcusably giving the ball away. Improved afterwards but that goal undoubtedly took the wind out of United’s sails.

Bruno Fernandes – 7 – Was pretty much United’s one bright spark. Although he did slightly overhit some of his through-balls, Fernandes was the only United player trying to make things happen, while he was also tasked with a ridiculously high defensive workload, too, making no fewer than four tackles. Took his late penalty well.

Daniel James – 5 – Used his pace to get behind the Chelsea defence a couple of times during the first half but wasn’t quite found by United’s creative players. Cut a largely isolated figure throughout and failed to have a single shot.

Marcus Rashford – 5 – Came close with a breakaway effort early in the second half but dragged it just wide of the far post. Was kept under lock and key otherwise by a superb defensive performance from Chelsea.

Subs:

Anthony Martial (45+2 mins, for Bailly) – 6 – Won the penalty late on but was otherwise left isolated at the top of the pitch as Chelsea dominated.

Paul Pogba (55 mins, for Fred) – 5 – Did precious little to get United back into the game.

Mason Greenwood (55 mins, for James) – 5 – An ineffective replacement for Dan James.

Odion Ighalo (79 mins, for Rashford) – 5 – Had little time to change the game after replacing Rashford in the final 10 minutes.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah (79 mins, for Wan-Bissaka) – 4 – Just when you thought Wan-Bissaka’s passing display was bad, Fosu-Mensah came on and completed just 67% of his.

Chelsea

Willy Caballero – 6 – Could do little with Fernandes’ penalty but was otherwise untested on an easy day at the office.

Cesar Azpilicueta – 8 – Delivered a wonderful cross into the United six-yard box for Giroud’s goal and put in another rock-solid defensive performance. A brilliant leader for this young Chelsea side.

Kurt Zouma – 7 – Could have given away a penalty with a clumsy swipe on Martial in first-half stoppage time but was otherwise dominant both in the air and on the ground.

Antonio Rudiger – 8 – Did well to put Maguire off for the own goal and like Zouma, was in total control defensively.

Reece James – 8 – Returned to the form which has put him on so many supporters’ radars recently with a brilliant wing-back performance. Tore up and down the right flank with relentless energy and brilliant delivery. Also tested De Gea with an early rocket from long range.

Jorginho – 7 – Another mesmeric passing performance from Jorginho, who is still very much the metronome in this Chelsea midfield when called upon.

Mateo Kovacic – 7 – Helped Chelsea stifle Man Utd with a superb all-round performance, getting stuck into tackles when required and calmly recycling possession when a cool head was needed.

Marcos Alonso – 7 – Could have scored early on and remained a constant source of danger down Chelsea’s left with his delivery and willingness to get forward. United never targeted his defensive deficiencies as so many teams often do.

Willian – 8 – Yet again, Willian offered up a tireless performance, leading the Chelsea press with three tackles, while also finding himself involved in the build-up to the opening goal, setting Azpilicueta away down the right flank.

Olivier Giroud – 9 – Ran across Lindelof superbly for the opening goal and although De Gea should have saved his effort, the Frenchman made his own luck with intelligent, proactive movement. Another timeless performance from Giroud, who seems to be speeding up as he advances into his 30s, rather than slowing down.

Mason Mount – 8 – Rather fortunate to see De Gea spill his effort for the second goal but just like Giroud, Mount made his own luck with an electric attacking performance. Mount completed three dribbles, had four shots and completed 92% of his passes to keep the Man Utd backline pinned.

Subs: 

Tammy Abraham (80 mins, for Giroud) – 6 – Came on to re-energize the Chelsea forward line but had little to do in his 10-minute cameo.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (80 mins, for Willian) – 4 – As substitute’s performances go, it couldn’t have gone much worse for Hudson-Odoi, who gave away a penalty just minutes after coming onto the pitch to spoil an otherwise flawless defensive performance from Chelsea. With an FA Cup final to come, though, we’re sure he doesn’t mind.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (86 mins, for Kovacic) – 6 – Had little time to affect the game.

Pedro (90 mins, for Mount) – N/A – A last-minute replacement for Mount.