Vardy sixth strike leaves Chelsea feeling blue
LEICESTER notched up their first win at Chelsea in 18 years.
Jamie Vardy’s goal six minutes into the second half inflicted the Blues’ first home defeat of Maurizio Sarri’s reign.
Chelsea’s third defeat in six Premier League games left the Italian pondering his side’s “strange” reaction and “mental confusion”.
Foxes’ boss Claude Puel’s team selection was questioned for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final with Manchester City, who advanced on penalties, as Vardy was rested to manage his return from a groin problem.
He proved his fitness with a sixth goal of the season as Leicester won at Chelsea for the first time since September 2000.
Chelsea dominated possession in the first half, with Eden Hazard hitting the bar, but struggled to assert themselves after Vardy’s strike.
Marcos Alonso hit a post in stoppage time, but in truth Leicester were worthy winners.
“If Chelsea didn’t perform in all the game today, I think my players were responsible,” Puel said.
“We came back in the second half with better quality on the ball.
“A fantastic move for the goal and I was happy for Jamie to finish and be clinical. We continued to defend like a team, with 11 players with the right mentality to keep this result.”
For yet another game, Sarri was left scratching his head at his players’ performance.
The Blues head coach said: “We played very well for 55 minutes. We played very good football.
“After the goal the reaction was for me a strange reaction, not in the right direction, not as a team, but as 11 different players.
“There was time to score, without reacting as a team shocked, as a team in mental confusion.”
Sarri cannot understand why the issue keeps recurring and hopes for a response on Boxing Day at Watford.