Player Ratings: Fulham 0-2 Manchester City

Fulham’s season ended with defeat and the club finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, albeit with a record Premier League points tally to boot; though I’m sure realistically any fan would’ve traded in any such record for European qualification or a day at Wembley. George Rossiter has your final player ratings of a topsy-turvy 2024/25 campaign…

Bernd Leno

It was rather unfortunate that Bernd Leno’s first save, avoiding being chipped by Matheus Nunes, landed at the feet of the audacious Ilkay Gundogan, whose overhead kick put City ahead. Shortly after, Nico Gonzalez was denied from the edge of the box, and the save with his face from Gvardiol just after half time was certainly the pick of the bunch. Not able to make it two from two in terms of penalty saves but overall a decent showing to end the season, which yielded only five clean sheets in the end. 7/10.

Kenny Tete

Jeremy Doku truly put Tete to the test in this one, it’s not often that you see our right back backing off his winger so often and looking visibly shattered at half time, let alone after 90 minutes. His passing was relatively poor, too, not finding his man with a single cross and misplacing every long ball he tried. Despite a struggle here, I still severely hope this isn’t the last time we see Kenny in the black and white. 5/10.

Joachim Andersen

A lot has been made of Andersen’s lack of pace this season, and my goodness me was that on show when he occasionally came up against Jeremy Doku in one-on-one scenarios. Bar that, Andersen was fairly solid, completing the majority of his long-diagonals and managing more combined interceptions and clearances than any other player on the day. 6.5/10.

Jorge Cuenca

Just like on any of Cuenca’s rare starts in the Premier League this season, the Spaniard gave more than a decent showing of himself. In no way did he looked overawed by the presence of Haaland and Marmoush who faced up to him, and while some may critique him for the run Nunes made in the build up to City’s first, I’d claim that’s harsh. With the most successful tackles of any Fulham player, this was solid enough again from Jorge. 6.5/10.

Antonee Robinson

I severely hope the USMNT have been watching Robinson over the last six to eight weeks and acknowledge the rest that Robinson requires to not only get over his tendon issues, but to just simply give the bloke some time off to get some freshness into his legs and mind. Today just summed up the last couple of minutes for Jedi, his athleticism and attacking output just haven’t looked the same of late. His passing was poor here, and though defensively he was fine, including a great block from Marmoush late in the first half, we know there’s a far better level in there to unlock once more next season. 5.5/10

Sasa Lukic

Fairly anonymous in the first half, especially in that first 25 minutes when Fulham really struggled to maintain any possession, let alone in the Man City half. In the second half, Lukic was more intent on receiving the ball and progressing possession, ending with Fulham’s highest pass completion rate. You still just end up being left frustrated with the lack of potency coming from deeper in Fulham’s midfield though, and that will surely need addressing in the summer window. 6/10.

Tom Cairney

Unlike Lukic in the first half, Cairney was at least frequently showing for the ball in midfield when Fulham struggled for control. Though his final ball wasn’t always perfect, there was at least intent and desire to create. His two efforts late in the first half were agonisingly close to producing a Fulham equaliser and a moment that would have lived in the minds of Fulham fans for eternity. I pray that this game wasn’t his last. 7/10 – Man of the match.

Andreas Pereira

Unfortunately, this was a game that summed up Andreas to anyone that watched him this year, just pure frustration. Incredible lack of desire to get in the ball, how a number ten can complete just eight passes in an hour of football is a borderline disgrace. His two chances that he missed cost us too, the second just after half time a complete shocker. I think ultimately, if he’s going to keep touting himself elsewhere in the media, he’s more than welcome to leave, one of a few big underperformers this season. 4/10.

Harry Wilson

Came so close to scoring twice towards the end of the first half, forcing two really decent low saves from Ederson that could have found Fulham level in the game. Really glad he’s signed a new deal, every time he  plays it’s evident we don’t have another winger with his attacking intent, which makes it all the more baffling as to why he was subbed off on the hour mark with Fulham needing a goal. 6.5/10.

Adama Traore

Very evident Silva was sick to his stomach with Traore’s lack of tracking back as Fulham were trapped inside their own defensive third in the opening stages of the game. And while Traore was rather erratic, he certainly grew into that first half as a decent attacking threat, coming close to scoring in a one-on-one scenario with Ederson, but ultimately needed a better first touch. Drifted out of the game in the second half. 5.5/10.

Raul Jimenez

Had literally nothing to go off all day, to be honest. Says a lot that he made as many clearances out of our own box as he did have shots at the other end. Of those two, one was a shanked effort with Ederson chasing him down outside the box that went into row ZZ in the Putney End. The other was a 96^th minute overhead kick that nearly flew into the net. 6/10.

Substitutes

Alex Iwobi (60’ for Wilson)

I think you could see the benefit in Iwobi being rested and getting to use his fresh legs for the final half an hour. In just half an hour he completed more dribbles than any of the Fulham starting XI and completed more passes than any of the front four that started. 6.5/10.

Emile Smith Rowe (60’ for Pereira)

Unfortunately a half an hour cameo that summed his year up for the most part, completely anonymous. No intent to do anything but the bare minimum and no desire to bring Fulham back into the game from what you could see. 5/10.

Josh King (73’ for Cairney)

Felt like a passing of the torch moment when young Josh replaced the skipper here. Incredible but increasingly unsurprising that King didn’t look out of place in a midfield battle comprising the likes of De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden and Nico. 6.5/10.

Ryan Sessegnon (73’ for Traore)

Only played the last 20 minutes and was still comfortably our biggest creative threat. Looked to take City players on in their own box unlike many. Created decent chances for King, Berge and Jimenez, of which sadly none were taken. 7/10.

Sander Berge (85’ for Lukic)

Normally wouldn’t comment on a player coming on this late, but Berge missed a sitter late on and ended the season with  zero goal contributions, meaning he and Lukic managed zero goals and two assists between them in 61 combined Premier League games. Something has to change in that position next year. (Rating N/A)

Manager

Marco Silva

Not sure what to say really. Lots of things need to change next season but regarding this game specifically, all a bit of a nothingness really. Didn’t show any game plan for 25 minutes. Sess and King on far too late considering what they could offer. Wilson coming off before any other attacking an absurd decision. Ultimately didn’t play badly but didn’t have the cutting edge to do anything special. Sums this season up under Marco. 5/10.