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Chelsea 2-0 Southampton (FA Cup): Three key players

By Chris Hughes

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea celebrates scoring the first goal during the The Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Chelsea and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on April 22, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Olivier Giroud of Chelsea celebrates scoring the first goal during the The Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Chelsea and Southampton at Wembley Stadium on April 22, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Jan Bednarek of Southampton scores his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 14: Jan Bednarek of Southampton scores his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Chelsea at St Mary’s Stadium on April 14, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

Jan Bednarek

The 22-year-old was arguably the Saints’ best defender on the day, with both wing-backs going missing and Wesley Hoedt having a pretty poor game.

Bednarek has now featured in more games under Mark Hughes than he did in around eight months under Mauricio Pellegrino, and it has begged the question as to why the Argentine had such little faith in the centre-back.

Granted, the deal for the Polish international would’ve almost certainly first got going before Pellegrino’s arrival in late June, but that doesn’t fully excuse why he only played the defender twice all season.

Against Chelsea he was a composed figure with a good passing range, much like what Hoedt was when he first started with the Saints. Bednarek deserves praise for seizing his chance following Jack Stephens’ suspension and he will almost certainly give Hughes a selection headache now his ban has been completed.