Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Sloppy Blues still make their Marc
THOMAS TUCHEL watched in frustration as Chelsea’s home form cost them dear again.
The Blues were held to a seventh draw of a frustrating season at Stamford Bridge and their results have been better on the road.
They have managed just eight home wins, which is the worst of all the teams in the top seven, and clearly the underlying reason why they have fallen so short in this season’s title race.
Chelsea’s prospective owner Todd Boehly was sat high up in an executive box and he cannot be thinking he is getting much value for his seat let alone the £4.25billion takeover deal.
Blues boss Tuchel cut a frustrated figure again on the touchline as Chelsea wasted so many gilt-edged chances and this turbulent season has rapidly faded away into disappointment.
The German was laughing before kick-off when the Shed End unveiled a huge banner with a picture of him and the words “Deutscher Maestro”.
But soon after, Tuchel was going crazy on the touchline as his Blues went behind after just seven minutes and it was Marcos Alonso who was the target of his anger.
Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel punted the ball forward, Alonso went to sleep and let Timothy Castagne cut inside and his pass was deflected to James Maddison.
Maddison smashed a shot past keeper Edouard Mendy for his 17th goal in all competitions this season and, when you add on 11 assists, it is an impressive tally.
Schmeichel made a brilliant save from Trevoh Chalobah’s 25-yard shot,
Romelu Lukaku wasted a big chance and it was no surprise when Chelsea equalised as Alonso redeemed himself after 35 minutes.
This time, Chelsea wingback Reece James played an inch-perfect diagonal ball forward, Alonso watched it fall from the sky and then hit a stunning first-time volley past Schmeichel.
That gave Chelsea the impetus to get the winner but it was a familiar tale of frustration for Lukaku as it has just not happened for the Blues’ £97.5million striker.
Hakim Ziyech put over a teasing and inviting cross from the left but Lukaku then glanced a header wide of the far post. That was a big miss.
But Lukaku turned provider for Christian Pulisic soon after and the USA winger completely scuffed his shot as the ball went horribly wide from close range. It was an incredible miss,
Chelsea were lucky not to see Antonio Rudiger sent off for an X-rated challenge on Wesley Fofana, but referee Stuart Attwell only gave a yellow card and VAR did not upgrade it,
Neither side could find a breakthrough and now Chelsea entertain Watford on Sunday and surely then they can finish their season with one last home win.