‘They silent Luis Suarez and Joao Felix”- Ferdinand reveals the two Chelsea players he loved most in Atletico Madrid victory
Chelsea’s defence was in top form against Atletico Madrid, as the Blues defeated Diego Simeone’s side 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
With Thiago Silva and Andreas Christensen ruled out of the clash, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel drafted in Kurt Zouma alongside Cesar Azpilicueta and Antonio Rudiger for his back three against the Spaniards.
Zouma put in a good shift in defence, and Rudiger was also outstanding. Their partnership ensured Suarez was missing all through the game until he was subbed off after the hour mark.
Joao Felix was also expected to cause havoc for the away side, but he never really found joy against the Blues defence.
Speaking after the game, Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, was full of praise for the Chelsea defence and particularly hailed the performance of Zouma and Rudiger. He also recognised the effort to Edouard Mendy.
“Tuchel has this team motoring,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.
“They are hard to play against, they are aggressive. That man Rudiger today, him and Zouma, they were aggressive, they munched the Atletico Madrid strikers.
“Any attacks that came their way, they were thwarted. “There was a desire in his team today not to concede goals. In the last minute, it epitomized what this team is about.
“Mendy, last minute, hasn’t done anything all game, one save, a massive save at the end.
“They want to keep clean sheets game in, game out and they are onto something at the moment.”