Chelsea vs Wolves result: Player ratings as Thomas Tuchel era starts with a frustrating draw

Chelsea 0-0 Wolves: A stalemate and a point at home for the first game in the new manager’s reign

(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Thomas Tuchel started life at Chelsea with a 0-0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

The replacement for Frank Lampard made a handful of changes for his first game in charge, including a tactical switch to a three-man defence, and they dominated the opening exchanges without creating too many chances on goal. Leander Dendoncker headed Wolves’ only effort of the half over the bar shortly before the break.

After half-time, the similar pattern ensued of home team dominance but little end product; Olivier Giroud spurned one close-range shot - before Pedro Neto sprinted through to flick a shot over Edouard Mendy and onto the top of the crossbar. 

READ MORE: Premier League fixtures and table - all matches by date and kick-off time

Having survived that scare Chelsea made subs and pushed for the win, with Mateo Kovacic’s long-range shot just missing the top corner and Callum Hudson-Odoi seeing an effort tipped around the post - but the new manager had to settle for a point.

Here are the player ratings from the game at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea

Edouard Mendy - 6. Had a watching brief for 70 minutes, then had to watch the ball bounce off his bar.

Cesar Azpilicueta - 6. Neat on the ball without offering much in the way of invention or penetration to the final third.

Thiago Silva - 7. Dominant without having an awful lot to do. Very good with distribution.

Antonio Rudiger - 6. Calm enough with his defensive work, little as that was. 

Callum Hudson-Odoi - 8. Nominally a wing-back in a fluid system but wasn’t exactly asked to defend with regularity. Put over Chelsea’s most dangerous crosses, nearly scored late on - then tracked back to great effect to prevent a late Wolves winner.

Mateo Kovacic - 8. Was the passing fulcrum of the team right from kick-off. Fashioned the few openings the team managed in the opening hour and nearly put one top corner late on.

Jorginho - 6. Quietly tidy but on the periphery. Didn’t find the gaps between Wolves’ massed ranks.

Ben Chilwell - 6. Had the best chance for the Blues but fired over.

Hakim Ziyech - 6. One shot from range aside, he didn’t have a huge impact in the final third.

Kai Havertz - 7. One powerful run hinted at his intent to improve. Made a couple of good through passes and teed up Chilwell for a great chance.

Olivier Giroud - 6. Headed one cross over and had very little else fall his way.

Wolves

Rui Patricio - 6. For all the home team’s possession, wasn’t troubled at all.

Willy Boly - 7. Defended very low, cleared plenty.

Conor Coady - 6. A couple of issues one-on-one and lost out on the aerial battles.

Max Kilman - 6. A steady performer. Closed down Ziyech to good effect several times.

Nelson Semedo - 6. On the team sheet he was a wing-back but barely ever got forward from the defensive five. 

Leander Dendoncker - 5. Barely involved for long stretches. Lots of running and closing out spaces but not a lot of involvement.

Ruben Neves - 6. Similar to Dendoncker but more of the ball went his way. Fired a set-piece off-target.

Rayan Ait-Nouri - 6. A decent early battle with Hudson-Odoi but was subbed at the break.

Adama Traore - 6. Extremely quiet in the first half, then started to lead the counters after the break a little better

Daniel Podence - 5. Hard-working but not too much attacking output, other than setting Neto away for his chance.

Pedro Neto - 7. Had the few chances Wolves fashioned, lobbing the best of all over the keeper and onto the crossbar.