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Chelsea

 

Leicester City FC looked resilient and ready to spoil our first home game of the season, they created chances and could have put the game to bed in both halves, but having missed their chances it was only inevitable that the quality of our squad eventually proved itself.

Diego Costa opened the scoring in the 62nd minute after Ivanovic brilliantly skinned two players before crossing it square to the Spaniard. Chelsea went further ahead in the 77th minute via Eden Hazard, the Belgian got the better of Ritchie de Laet before pulling the trigger on goal to put the ball past Kasper Schmeichel.

Didier Drogba came on for Diego Costa late in the game and received a roaring standing ovation, club owner, Roman Abramovich, who couldn’t hide his delight after the 2 goals also took part in the standing ovation as it was his 11th anniversary of taking over the club. Our first opponents at home after the Russian’s take over in 2003? Leicester City FC.

Courtois Justifying Selection

Thibaut Courtois made a number of saves whenever Chelsea fell to a Leicester City surprise attack, most notably saving from Algerian, Riyad Mahrez with his outstretched right foot when Leicester were 3 on 2 against the Chelsea defense and another brilliant save when David Nugent went one on one with the big young Belgian.

When Jose Mourinho was asked about the saves made by Courtois, he praised the Belgian but said it was nothing new at Stamford Bridge and Petr Cech has been doing that for the club over the past 10 seasons.

Cech was on the bench again following Courtois’ appointment between the sticks, the Czech stated he wants to stay and combat for his place and I hope he does.

Ivanovic Extra in Attack

Branislav Ivanovic was once again a work horse for us in an opening game of the season.

Chelsea were due a goal after Oscar had hit the post not long ago and Kasper Schmeichel had made a couple of good saves from Chelsea but thanks to Ivanovic a chance was created that neither the post or Schmeichel could deny.

The Serb charged down the right hand side after receiving the ball from Oscar before making a nuisance of two Leicester defenders and crossing to Diego Costa who did well despite all the bodies in the box, to put the shot away.

Branislav Ivanovic starts the season proper; I hope he keeps it up all through the season.

No Filipe Luis Yet

Yes, I’m still a bit surprised we haven’t seen any action from the Brazilian and a bit disappointed, but it’s still very early in the season.

I felt he should have been given a run around against Burnley in Turf Moor denying Drogba a 2nd debut appearance away, but like I said, it’s still too early.

With his quality and very sure he has a very vital part to play this season and once given a chance he could make the left back position his own, which creates questions for the right back position which is where Cesar Azpilicueta plays best currently occupied by Ivanovic.

Suspicious At the Back

Leicester managed to have a number of decent highlights of their own in both halves of the game.

Ritchie de Laet made a huge impression on the right side, so did the pace of Mahrez and in the second half

Nemanja Matic could have had his head buried in his hands after misplacing the ball to Leicester City making them go 3 attackers on 2 Chelsea defenders, Courtois saved well with his foot before David Nugent was completely one on one and pulled off another brilliant save to deny the former Portsmouth striker.

We dropped vital points to teams who were way down in the bottom half and in the end it cost us an opportunity to run away with the league. Chelsea have to be careful at the back against these kind of teams all season and tuck complacency away when playing each and every one of them.

Hazard Up and Running for the Season

Now with the jersey number he so much loves, Eden Hazard is even more determined to prove how good a player he is to audiences around the world now, not just Chelsea fans this time around.

After a mediocre World Cup performance by his standards the Belgian will be trying to set the bar higher this time for season to improve on his impressive last season that won him the PFA Young Player Award. Hazard got off the mark in the 77th minute and waved a kiss to the Chelsea fans in celebration, I for one was happy to see him score in this particular game to lift the lid of his 2014/2015 campaign.

Diego Costa Can’t Flop Now

Two league games, two league goals from his two shots on target in the league, Diego Costa has already disappointed rival fans who would have taken delight in him not impressing after his £32m move from Spain.

The big Spaniard has already had a massive impact on Chelsea’s season, grabbing the equalizer in the first game and scoring the opener in the second and that’s what you want from your striker right?

Costa looks like he has adapted to the English game already having the physicality and attitude for it and he would play the most important role this season for the blues by getting those goals we so dearly need from a front man.

Summary

It’s always nice to get 3 points; we are still on course for our 100% start into the new season, lots of positives to take from the outing at the Bridge but a few concerns.

However, our next game comes off as tricky now as we take on a more difficult opponent than the previous two; Everton at Goodison Park is a game we would have to step up completely from our performance against Leicester.

Come On Chelsea!

 

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