That’s why Chelsea are the best team in the land because they never give up, because they can play like a drain in the first half and like an unstoppable train in the second. That’s why a victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday will bring them a fifth title. “We’re going to win the league,” chorused the Chelsea fans at the final whistle and nobody can argue. More photos after the cut...
Trailing to Marc Albrighton’s first goal for Leicester City, Chelsea were all over the place for 45 minutes, failing to deal with the passing of Esteban Cambiasso and the running of Jamie Vardy. A shock looked on. Leicester’s recent resurgence looked set to continue.
Instead Jose Mourinho gathered his players in the dressing-room at the break and they were a totally different side when they returned, playing with confidence, power and pace, showing a real hunger to secure the points. Initially it was a case of the old ones being the best, the thirtysomethings Didier Drogba and John Terry turning the score on its head. Then Ramires made it 3-1 with an exquisite finish, rifling the ball as the visiting hordes chanted “boring, boring Chelsea”.
There was nothing boring about Chelsea after the break, just as they had entertained before Christmas. They played with the hand-brake off, with their tails up. It is now down to other teams to challenge them properly next season, for the likes of Arsenal to acquire the tactical noise and psychological strength to live with them, for Manchester United to keep David de Gea and buy the two or three players to take the fight to Chelsea, for Manchester City to rejuvenate their squad.
Chelsea will be deserved champions because they have the best balance between defence and attack, because they have leaders like Terry who drive them on and because they have the elegance of individual talents like Eden Hazard. The Belgian was not at his best here but the collective prevailed, Chelsea prevailed – after that early scare.
The 3,341 Chelsea fans amongst the raucous 32,021 had endured a nervy night until Drogba’s equaliser early in the second half. Chelsea had been disappointing before the break, as poor as Leicester were good, but showed an improvement immediately after the break, the sharpened bite shown by Terry and then Ramires. It was a stunning turnaround, their mood transformed from the first half. Jose Mourinho must have said something stirring at the break, challenging them to respond.
Chelsea had needed to. Leicester’s determination had been clear from the first whistle. Starting with confidence flowing from four wins on the spin, Leicester had torn into the champions-elect. Jamie Vardy set the tone, immediately hounding Branislav Ivanovic. Even before Albrighton struck on the cusp of half-time, Leicester had swarmed all over Chelsea.
For a half, there was no standing on ceremony by the host for such august guests, no reverence shown to Mourinho’s side. Playing against his old Inter Milan boss, Esteban Cambiasso was a model of industry and passing elegance in central midfield. In one move, he fell over in closing down Willian but still showed wonderful footwork in juggling the ball past the Brazilian.
The Argentinian midfielder then conjured up one of the passes of the season, a gem swept from left of centre to Leonardo Ulloa in the box, a delivery demanded so much more than the striker’s clunky first touch. For all this admirable approach work, Petr Cech was not tested on his sixth Premier League appearance of the season until five minutes from the break when Leicester laid siege to his goalmouth and, particularly, when Albrighton arrived to apply the decisive touch of the first half.
On it went from the early stages, Albrighton pressing Eden Hazard and Danny Drinkwater harrying Willian. Leicester briefly lost some momentum with injuries: Andy King and then Robert Huth limped away, being replaced by Matty James and Ritchie de Laet respectively. There was no self-pitying from Leicester, no let-up in their hungry work and certainly no diminution of the noise levels set by their supporters.
Chelsea slowly began to find ways towards Kasper Schmeichel’s area. Drogba missed with a snap-shot. Hazard, who had been drifting across the space behind Drogba, then dropped a perfect pass down the inside-left channel for Cesc Fabregas. Rather than arrowing straight for goal, Fabregas over-elaborated, played the ball across and Wes Morgan cleared.
Chelsea fans were in good voice, singing that “Fabregas is magic”, and having held up a banner before kick-off proclaiming that “we shall not be moved. Ruining football since 2003”. It was a mocking sign, more celebrating their own success and enjoyment of Roman Abramovic’s largesse.
Leicester were threatening to ruin their night. Paul Konchesky flew in on Ramires and was booked. Leicester almost took the lead five minutes from the interval. Albrighton was the architect, whipping a cross to Konchesky at the far-post where his shot hit the post. Cambiasso went close, then eventually worked the ball back out to Albrighton whose shot burrowed into a wall of yellow.
The pressure told. Leicester’s ambition was rewarded. Shortly after the fourth official, Neil Swarbrick, had signaled three minutes extra, Leicester pounced. Vardy stroked the ball across from the left, and Cesar Azpilicueta slipped on the greasy surface. Albrighton kept his footing and composure and rolled the ball past Cech. It was Albrighton’s first goal for Leicester in 16 appearances since joining from Aston Villa, whose hopes of staying in the Premier League were not helped by this goal.
Leicester brought Peter Shilton on the pitch at the break, reflecting on his career with the mighty Alan Birchenall, the King Power’s answer to Jeremy Paxman. Birchenall finished the interview by shouting “we can do this” to the home fans.
Yet three minutes later, Chelsea were level. It is always dangerous to write off Drogba. He was poor in the first half, missing a couple of decent chances, but he retains his awareness. When Ivanovic marauded in from the right, Drogba got in ahead of Morgan and steered a shot past Schmeichel. The Ivorian ran away from the area, sliding across the turf, rolling back the years as Chelsea fans celebrated.
Drogba was transformed, being far more of a threat, twice going close. So did Willian. Mourinho had clearly had a word with his underperforming team at the break. When Willian darted through the middle, Hazard made a quick break down the right and was picked out by the Brazilian. De Laet did well to slide in and clear.
With 14 minutes remaining, Pearson made his final change, taking off Vardy for Riyad Mahrez. But the next change was to the scoreline. From a Fabregas corner, Gary Cahill headed goalwards, and Schmeichel saved superbly. Terry was quickest to the loose ball, flicking it home. Then came Ramires, making it 3-1 to Chelsea with a left-footed thunderbolt. “Boring, boring Chelsea” came the chant from the visiting fans, followed by “are you watching, Arsenal?”
Chelsea have thrown down the gauntlet for next season and it is now down to the likes of Arsenal to pick it up.
No comments:
Post a Comment