The Blues may just be days away from sealing their fifth Premier League title after a 3-1 away win over Leicester early yesterday morning.
Second-half goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ramires helped Chelsea to overcome a home side which went far off-script at the King Power Stadium.
With the rain pouring down in the opening minutes, Mourinho’s men attempted to play more openly than in recent weeks, however, the team could not get into a rhythm on the pitch and found themselves stifled by Leicester’s pressure and speed.
Despite having to substitute both Andy King and Robert Huth before the 25 minute mark, the football from the hosts remained on-point and Marc Albrighton gave the Foxes a shock, yet deserved lead late in first-half stoppage time. The 26-year-old finished off a counter-attack that would have made some visiting supporters a little envious to say the least.
The advantage would not be enjoyed for long though, as Chelsea hit back quickly after the restart when Branislav Ivanovic broke through the home defence and into the box, setting up Drogba for an easy finish with a low pass back across goal. Although recovering well after conceding, Nigel Pearson could only make a further change to his fatiguing team, who became prey as Terry capitalised with an easy finish to take the lead with ten minutes left.
An empathic exclamation point was put on the performance by Ramires, who sealed the win with a fireball of a strike from the top of the 18-yard box in the closing stages.
Leicester ready for the relegation fight
Many looked at this game coming in as a stepping stone for Jose Mourinho’s man on the final path home to the title, however, on the pitch it was the Foxes who took the initiative from the outset and. There were many dangerous moments for Chelsea throughout the first-half, from a probing Cambiasso long ball that nearly setup Leonard Ulloa in the 12th minute, to a close range effort that forced Thibaut Courtois into action.
The West Londonders had kept three clean sheets in a row previous to this match, yet the Premier League’s most acclaimed defensive line was left looking rather helpless when the hosts broke down the left-wing in the last moments before the half-time whistle, a beautiful pass from Matthew James finding a running Jamie Vardy who passed back across goal for Albrighton to slot away.
Ultimately, Leicester’s efforts were severely hampered by losing Andy King and Robert Huth within the first quarter of the match, Nigel Pearson unable to make more than one substitute later in the game when Chelsea found their groove. The Foxes are now sitting one point above the relegation zone amongst a fierce battle for survival, but if they can play the remaining four games like they did here, there is no reason they cannot remain in the top flight.
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Mourinho finally moves the bus
In the recent meetings with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal, the Portugese manager has been focused on protecting the spot at the top of the ladder rather than extending the lead, his players taking the safer approaches on the pitch rather than seeking victories by three or four goals.
After performances over the last two weeks that saw the team widely labelled as ‘boring’, it was refreshing to see the Blues with some real attacking intent to their game. Although on the back-foot for the majority of the 90 minutes, especially in the second-half there was a return to the smooth build-up passing around the 18-yard box that has undone so many opposition teams over the campaign.
It took time and the attempts on goal may have been far between, but eventually the goals came, with Drogba ending a domestic scoreless run that has lasted since early December. The momentum in the late stages undoubtedly contributed to Terry’s tap-in goal in the 78th and Ramires’ stunner from just outside of the box to seal in win in the 82nd.
Only one hurdle remains
Mourinho was willing to take more risks in this game, giving up space in his own half as players like Ramires, who had been focused on tracking back against Arsenal, were given more freedom to build-up the attacking plays rather than hit long balls forward.
It has seemed like the inevitable for the past few weeks, but Chelsea will now have the opportunity to make their fifth title a mathematical victory if they can triumph over 12th place Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. With their infamous hitman Diego Costa’s return also looking imminent, the Blues may be capping-off their dominant domestic run in style and on the soil of their home fortress.
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