Back at the stadium that hosted the acrid final scene of the second José Mourinho era, the stage was seemingly set for Chelsea to give their title rivals further encouragement that they can be caught. The defeat at Tottenham Hotspur had stalled their momentum, while the deliciously unexpected twist in the explosive Diego Costa story heightened the intrigue before kick-off at Leicester City. A trip to the champions felt like a fine test of their character.
Yet even though Chelsea were without their main striker, who was dropped after a row over a huge offer made to him from a club in the Chinese Super League, there was little dramatic tension at the King Power Stadium. The result never looked in doubt after Marcos Alonso’s early goal, with the left wing‑back’s double offering an impressive display of Chelsea’s adaptability and strength in depth. A header from the excellent Pedro added gloss to the scoreline.
Related: Antonio Conte insists he did not lie over Diego Costa’s absence from team
Related: Chelsea bandwagon rolls on as Marcos Alonso double sees off Leicester
Continue reading...