Chelsea 1–0 Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings: Enzo Fernandez Winner Guides Blues Back to Premier League Top-Four

Chelsea picked up a gritty 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Thursday (April 4, 2025). A second half goal from Enzo Fernandez was enough to help the Blues do the league double over their London rivals and storm back into the Premier League top-4.

The hosts began the game in blistering fahion and almost grabbed an opener in the first minute itself. Nicolas Jackson was slipped in behind the Spurs backline, but scuffed his shot before Micky van de Ven’s botched clearance struck the post. Malo Gusto had a chance of scoring a heroic goal in the 7th minute, but smashed a shot into the side-netting. Jackson had a shot on target seven minutes later after Guglielmo Vicario clumsily parried away Cole Palmer’s cross.

Chelsea upped the intensity, and Palmer got into the box in the 18th minute, only to see his perfect pass somehow blocked off. Jackson had another shot on goal in the 29th minute, only to sky his shot over the bar. Spurs’ first real chance came in the 36th minute, with Son Heung-min’s effort being parried away by Robert Sanchez.

Enzo Maresca’s side had a big chance to score the opener in the 44th minute when Jadon Sancho was played in an open position inside the box, but he saw his shot expertly tipped over the bar by Vicario. The half ended in somewhat chaotic fashion with multiple players getting into a brawl and Cristian Romero being booked.

Chelsea, however, looked rejuvenated after the break and came up roaring on all cylinders. Palmer had a shot denied by Vicario in the 49th minute. But in the 50th minute, he picked out Enzo Fernandez with a brilliant cross in the box, allowing him to powerfully head in the opening goal. The Blues also appeared to have gotten a second goal six minutes later after Moises Caicedo blasted a volley into the back of the net, but it was ruled out because of an offside before the strike.

This seemingly bolstered the Spurs’ confidence as they started pushing for an equalizer. The visitors had a penalty call denied in the 65th minute after Destiny Udogie’s cross seemingly struck Trevoh Chalobah’s arm. Substitute Pape Sarr then scored a brilliant long-range strike in the 69th minute, only for it to be ruled out because of a foul before it. Fernandez almost set up a goal after a brilliant run in the box in the 79th minute, only for Vicario to deny it.

Djed Spence saw a speculative effort go over the bar in the 81st minute. Spurs had a huge chance to score in the 89th minute when Brennan Johnson picked out a free Son Heung-min in the box, but the winger saw his scuffed shot denied by Sanchez. Despite piling bodies forward, Spurs couldn’t get an equalizer as the hosts held on to get back to winning ways in the Premier League. Here are the Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings.

Chelsea Player Ratings

GK – Robert Sanchez – 7/10

The Spaniard wasn’t tested that much by the Spurs forward, but maintained concentration in his goal. Produced a huge save to save Son’s shot late on and moved the ball around nicely too.

RB – Malo Gusto – 7.5/10

A proactive figure on the right for the Blues. Came close to scoring with a smashing effort, hitting the side-netting in the first half. Defensively study, frustrating Son with his timely challenges, and always willing to go forward.

CB – Trevoh Chalobah – 7/10

Chalobah held his own against Solanke, neutralizing the forward’s threat with his composed defending. Popped up in the right areas to make some crucial clearances.

CB – Levi Colwill – 6.5/10

Colwill was pretty solid in moving the ball forward with his efficient passing and worked hard defensively, making some nice clearances.

LB – Marc Cucurella – 7/10

The Spaniard was a rapid figure going forward, making some darting forward runs and swinging in some inviting crosses. Dealt well with Odobert’s threat, making key tackles and winning duels constantly.

CM – Moises Caicedo – 8.5/10

Caicedo bossed the midfield battle, using his energy and game-reading ability to neutralize the opponents’ threat through central areas. He made four tackles and won nine duels, bullying the midfielders. Unlucky that his super goal was chalked off.

CM – Enzo Fernandez – 8/10

Fernandez was a positive pocket of energy for the Blues in midfield, moving around into the danger areas to trouble the opposition players. He constantly made clever runs into the box and perfectly got into the area for his goal. Worked hard defensively with some nice challenges too.

RW – Pedro Neto – 6/10

Neto was quite confident in moving the ball forward and passed it along efficiently. Created a few nice chances with his crosses, but couldn’t test the goalkeeper.

AM – Cole Palmer – 7.5/10

Palmer was oozing with confidence and determined to make his mark against the Spurs. He drifted into all the right areas, picking out some nice crosses into the box to help his teammates. Perfectly laid a cross into the box for Fernandez’s goal.

LW – Jadon Sancho – 5/10

Another underwhelming outing from the winger. He showcased some nice dribbling skills and had a nice shot saved by Guglielmo in the first half. But failed to create anything and lost the ball in key areas at times.

CF – Nicolas Jackson – 5.5/10

Jackson received the ball in some promising areas, but his final product was awry. Failed to score from close range in the first minute and fluffed some shots over the bar too.

SUB – Noni Madueke – 6/10

Added some more driving force into the Chelsea backline, but couldn’t create much.

SUB – Reece James – 6/10

The Chelsea skipper helped add more reliability in the midfield, moving the ball along nicely.

SUB – Tosin Adarabioyo – N/R

Helped his side get the job done.

SUB – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – N/R

Added a bit more defensive power late on.

Manager – Enzo Maresca – 7.5/10

Maresca did well to maintain discipline within his side and ensure that they diligently controlled the majority of the game. His decision to allow Fernandez to play in a free role worked wonders as he scored the key goal. His defensive set-up was rock solid too and the gaffer appears to be getting the best out of many key players.

Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings

GK – Guglielmo Vicario – 7/10

Vicario was alert in his goal and recovered well from a shaky start. He popped up in the right areas to make a string of important saves, showcasing amazing reflexes to tip over Sancho’s shot in the first half. Couldn’t do much about Fernandez’s goal.

RB – Djed Spence – 6.5/10

The Englishman was quite tenacious on his side, working hard to keep Sancho quiet and also tracking Cucurella’s runs. He worked hard to overcome several key challenges, winning most of his duels too.

CB – Cristian Romero – 5.5/10

Romero came up with some necessary clearances, but was a bit sloppy with his defensive work. Booked for an unecessary tackle and his positioning at times was questionable too.

CB – Micky van de Ven – 6/10

Van de Ven was really proactive in his backline, making some vital clearances and winning duels against Jackson & co. He was lucky not to score an own goal early on and completely lost mark on Fernandez for his goal. Missed a decent scoring chance in the second half, guiding a weak header on goal.

LB – Destiny Udogie – 6/10

Udogie was quite threatening in moving the ball forward, making some great runs to get things done. He made some key possession recoveries, but could’ve done better to mark Fernandez before his goal.

CM – Rodrigo Bentancur – 5.5/10

The Uruguayan failed to really keep a lid on Chelsea’s movement through central areas, despite coming up with some vital challenges. He was overly aggressive at times and couldn’t really nullify Palmer’s threat.

CM – Lucas Bergvall – 7/10

The Swedish midfielder worked his socks off in midfield, getting in the right positions to cut down Chelsea’s attacks. He made several key challenges to recover possession and moved the ball forward nicely.

CM – James Maddison – 4.5/10

Maddison had a bit of an off day. He hardly contributed defensively and lacked that special spark with his final third passes. Couldn’t create anything awe-inspiring or win duels against the Chelsea midfielders.

RW – Wilson Odobert – 5.5/10

Odobert showed some promise with his forward runs and burst of pace at times, but was quite brittle in the final third. Failed to create anything noteworthy or really test Sanchez.

LW – Son Heung-min – 4.5/10

Son did work hard to get into some promising positions, but his final touch was missing. Scuffed a huge chance late on by failing to get to the end of the cross properly and was mostly neutralized.

CF – Dominic Solanke – 4/10

Solanke was quite isolated in the Chelsea area and couldn’t get into the game in the attacking front. He couldn’t even complete 10 passes or get to the end of anything, only winning some nice duels.

SUB – Brennan Johnson – 6.5/10

Added more energy to his side’s frontline and created a big chance late with a perfect cross for Son, who scuffed the chance.

SUB – Pape Sarr – 5.5/10

The young midfielder got into the thick of things after coming on. Had a penalty call denied and then scored a long-range screamer, only to see that chalked off by VAR too because of a foul.

SUB – Pedro Porro – N/R

Couldn’t create anything big after coming on.

SUB – Mathys Tel – N/R

Made a few nice forward runs but failed to provide anything special late on.

Manager – Ange Postecoglou – 6/10

Postecoglou opted to go for a relatively passive stance for once, ditching his side’s infamous high line to make things more difficult for Chelsea. HIs defensive set-up was pretty good for the majority, even though his players lost concentration for the goal. But his side lacked any teeth in the attacking front, failing to create that many counter-attacks and lacking finishing skills. His substitutions failed to work either.

Sportsdunia’s Man of the Match award goes to Moises Caicedo.