Costa helps ease the pressure on Blues boss Conte
REPORTS of Antonio Conte’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. His team turned in a performance that left even the notoriously hard-to-please Roman Abramovich laughing and clapping.
In an all-Italian battle of tactics and sharp suits, Conte outflanked Claudio Ranieri comprehensively.
Chelsea were sharp and incisive and deserved their goals from Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Victor Moses as a bare minimum.
Leicester on the other hand were a shambles from front to back. The tone was set by conceding from a set-piece after seven minutes and they failed to register a shot on goal.
Hazard’s low corner was cleverly backheeled on by Nemanja Matic and Costa thumped in a left-foot finish from eight yards. His celebration was a mark of respect to team-mate Willian, whose mother has passed away.
It was the Spanish striker’s seventh goal of the season and left Ranieri fuming: ‘It was a lack of concentration. We have done it too many times — you don’t expect it from Leicester.’
It set the tone. Hazard claimed Chelsea’s second goal. The Belgian ran on to a fortunate pass before rolling the ball in.
By that stage, Leicester looked a mess and Chelsea could have scored a hatful. Schmeichel saved from Costa and Moses while N’Golo Kante was denied a first Chelsea goal by a tremendous block by his former captain at Leicester, Wes Morgan. Moses did add the killer third 10 minutes from time after a one-two with Nathaniel Chalobah allowed the winger to fire home.
Conte was happy with what he saw. ‘We played very well. High intensity, good passing between the lines. We were also very aggressive when we lost the ball,’ he said.
‘I am pleased because we worked so hard during the week, it’s natural you want to see a good result on Saturday.’