Servette 2-1 Chelsea (agg 2-3) PLAYER RATINGS: Which big money Blues signing was wayward and lacking confidence? Who starred for Enzo Maresca’s side despite a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea qualified for the Europa Conference League group stages after beating Swiss side Servette 3-2 on aggregate despite Thursday’s 2-1 second-leg defeat in Geneva. 

Christopher Nkunku for the second time in as many games against Servette opened the scoring from the spot, with a low and powerful finish into the bottom left corner, but the lead didn’t last. 

Jeremy Guillemenot levelled the match just after the half hour, with substitute Enzo Crivelli making it 2-1 on 72 minutes to set up a nervy finish for the Blues.  

Though Enzo Maresca had made eight changes to his starting line-up, he was forced to call upon Cole Palmer to see out the game, with Nicolas Jackson and Moises Caicedo taking to the field with the tie far from secure. 

Here, Mail Sport’s DOMINIC HOGAN gives his Chelsea player ratings from the Europa Conference League meeting.

Christopher Nkunku scored from the spot to give the Blues an early lead though it didn’t last

Enzo Crivelli made it 2-1 on the night to the hosts on 73 minutes to set up a nervy finale

Filip Jorgensen 5.5

Had very little to do for the first half hour of the match, but was beaten by Jeremy Guillemenot’s first-half strike. 

Was let down by his defence for the second, but you want your goalkeeper to be an imposing presence on the game, and that’s not exactly how you would describe the Chelsea stopper’s showing. 

Benoit Badiashile 5

Picked up a booking and had a good shot blocked in an eventful first half for the Chelsea centre back. Yet once Servette’s tails got up in the second half he appeared to lack composure at the back – though he wasn’t the only one.

Axel Disasi 5

Not his best night. Took an age when on the ball in the attacking third, granted that’s not his bread and butter. Defensively though, he looked too static and was exploited for it in the second half at times. 

Filip Jorgensen was beaten too easily for the first goal but was let down by his defence for the second

Benoit Badiashile was booked in the first half and appeared erratic and lacked composure in the second half

Tosin Adarabioyo 5.5

Remained largely anonymous in Geneva for the first 72 minutes for Chelsea, and that’s no insult. Did his work quietly and kept off the radar for the vast majority of the game. 

Half at fault for the second goal, however, after a mix up with defensive partner Badiashile. 

Renato Veiga 6

Stepped into the midfield to slot in alongside captain-on-the-night Enzo Fernandez, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall flooded forward, and hardly put a foot wrong. 

A left back slotting into the midfield, where have we heard that before? Enzo Maresca insists he is no Pep Guardiola lite, but there’s a clear influence for how he deploys his full backs.  

Enzo Fernandez: 7

With the armband on Fernandez took on the guise of a senior player, despite just 65 games under his belt and 23 years. Yet he set the tone for the Blues with a brilliant effort inside the first 10 minutes, and got himself back repeatedly to help the team out defensively. 

An assured performance from the senior player who put hardly a foot wrong without doing anything miraculous either. . 

Enzo Fernandez captained the side in the continued absence of club skipper Reece James

Renato Veiga stepped into midfield alongside his captain on the night from left back

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 5.5

Made a number of line-breaking runs in behind the front three to provide constant intensity in midfield, though he had no real footprint on the Blues’ offensive work. 

Christopher Nkunku 7.5

Absolutely thundered his penalty into the bottom left corner and near took the net off. No keeper in the world was saving that. His bicycle kick attempt in the second half however…

A player Chelsea fans will want to get a run of games and stay fit and replicate the form that saw them fork out £53m, but it’s been a promising start to the season from Nkunku. 

Noni Madueke 6.5

On his big night following a call-up to Lee Carsley’s England squad, the Chelsea forward was not at his effervescent best in the first 45 minutes, before a much improved second half. 

Linked up well with Marc Guiu and played a number of impressive passes to his opposite flank, and tracked back brilliantly at times to show just why the Three Lions interim boss is such a fan before being taken off on 63 minutes. 

Nkunku’s penalty was unstoppable, but he backed it up with a good performance on Thursday

Noni Madueke was bright in the first half if unconvincing, but his work rate shone through in the second

Marc Guiu 7.5

The former Barcelona starlet showed just what it is they teach those kids at La Masia. Was calm on the ball and brought the best out in those around him, linking up with his fellow forwards throughout. 

He was taken off just after the hour, but showed a patience, nous and maturity that belied his years. Could have got an 8/10 given his youth and relative inexperience at the top level – not that it showed tonight – but those howlers from the first leg live long in the memory, and he spurned a good opportunity to get on the scoresheet tonight. 

Mykhailo Mudryk 4.5

Has had a tough start to his Chelsea career, it’s fair to say, but was sharp to latch onto a defensive error and win his side the penalty. That was however his highlight of the game. 

He was wayward with his shooting, and although he showed intent throughout, he still never feels comfortable bearing down a goal, which isn’t a great look for a forward. Fluffed his lines through on goal after running half the length of the pitch to more or less sum up his performance. However, one thing he never lacks is effort. 

Marc Guiu (right) linked well with his fellow forwards and showed a nous beyond his years

Despite never being short of effort Mykhailo Mudryk remains unconvincing, wayward and lacking in confidence in front of goal

Subs

Nicolas Jackson for Guiu (63′) 5.5 – His half hour more or less summed up his Chelsea career so far. Booked within a few minutes, and was found offside – though only just -for what he thought was Chelsea’s second on the night. Still a threat with his pace and tenacity, however.

Tyrique George for Madueke (63′) 6 – Made his debut for the side, highlighting just how highly Maresca and Co think of the 18-year-old to give him the nod. 

Moises Caicedo for Fernandez (63′) 6 – Took on the armband for the man he was replacing, which perhaps highlighted just how much Chelsea are lacking that leader figure that can keep the troops in order and inspire something through sheer will. 

Cole Palmer for Mudryk (74′) 6.5 – Instantly comfortable with the tempo and pace of the game, and almost got his side level with a close-range effort that crashed off the bar.

Enzo Maresca made proactive substitutes but his side almost let slip their two-goal lead in the tie

Manager

Enzo Maresca 5.5

A difficult one, really. His side won the tie over two legs, so he did his job, but against a team like Servette you would expect Chelsea to be through home and dry, rather than hanging on at the end.

Made proactive substitutes who had their impact on the game, but was very close to an embarrassing result on a night that should have been nothing short of routine.