Leicester 0-0

Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Leicester City 0: Stalemate at Stamford Bridge as Blues fail to overcome 10-man Leicester

Sam Wallace

There was a time when every decision Antonio Conte made seemed destined to yield results, from his radical new formations to his substitutions, which is why when he replaced Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas before the hour without even a sympathetic glance, one assumed that a goal was coming.

Conte is not a man who is prepared to die wondering what might have been and yet as his Chelsea side failed to overcome a Leicester City team down a man for the last 22 minutes plus stoppage time after Ben Chilwell’s red card, their manager was out of options. This was the club’s third consecutive goalless draw, after those in the FA Cup and EFL Cup, and while their defence of the Premier League title has long since turned to dust, this one felt the most damaging of all.

Much of the blame will rest on Alvaro Morata, now five goals without a game, and given his fragile confidence this was the wrong time to run into the outstanding Harry Maguire, winning challenges and carrying the ball clear like a farmer delighting in his new 4x4. Even when Chilwell was sent off for two yellow cards within the space of six minutes, the second of which was for a reckless challenge on Victor Moses, there was no breaking Leicester.     

The most damning verdict was Conte’s response to Hazard and Fabregas, the creative soul of his team, early in the second half when the Italian did not even bother to wait for an hour before he hauled both of them off. Hazard did his best to suppress his displeasure at the indignity of it but Conte had clearly seen enough for him to feel that Pedro was a better option than one of the Premier League’s finest players.

Hazard was overshadowed by Riyad Mahrez, especially in the first half, when his flickering feet and bursts of acceleration was a constant source of concern for Chelsea’s left-sided defender Antonio Rudiger, who nevertheless stuck grimly to his task. There was frustration at Conte’s line-up with a five-man midfield that included another full game for Tiemoue Bakayoko, a more obvious substitution, it appeared, when Conte tried to ramp up the pressure with Pedro and Willian.


There were boos for Chelsea at the final whistle, and afterwards Conte defended his players citing the exertions of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal, although it should be noted that Hazard felt fresh enough to attend the NBA game at the O2 Arena. Their manager rejected the notion that he should jettison the unpopular 3-5-2 in favour of last season’s title-winning 3-4-3 system and said that he just did not have the players.

And there was the mandatory response to the latest Jose Mourinho intervention, Conte responding to the Manchester United manager’s view that he held his counterpart in “contempt”. This answer might not have been the incendiary response of one week earlier but this feud will simmer, even if Conte accepted he would be willing to call a truce if his counterpart did likewise.

“I think I said I'd stop,” Conte said. “It's the same for me [that he would halt the back-and-forth if Mourinho did likewise]. I don't know if he said this for me. I'm not worried. I sleep very well.” He might sleep less well knowing that never before have Chelsea strung together three goalless draws in their history and with no imminent move in the transfer market, for Alexis Sanchez or any other attacking player, it will be down to the Italian to change things himself.

“I think the problem is for the team, not only for Morata,” Conte said. “Compared to last season, we are conceding less and showing great solidity defensively. But, at the same time, we are not showing great quality in our finishing. This is the truth. But not only for Morata. Defenders have had chances from corners, and we've not taken those chances to score. We have to try to improve on this aspect. But the problem is not only for Morata or [Michy] Batshuayi when he plays. It's for all the team.”

Conte said that he saw “a lot of players very tired” and when asked again about whether the club might consider a bid for Sanchez, he was non-committal. “I'm the coach. I'm trying to do the best with my players, to try and improve my players, to try to work and give every day 110 per cent. Sometimes this is enough. It [transfers] is not my business.”

Leicester had dominated the attacking parts of the first half, and Mahrez was a constant thorn in their side. Shinji Okazaki in particular should have scored from a cross and they ended the half with 12 attempts on Chelsea’s goal which was more, their former player Gary Lineker pointed out, than any away side in a first half at Stamford Bridge in 15 years.

Chelsea lost Gary Cahill to injury but mostly they were just struggling to build any attack of significance. Mahrez seemed to drag his foot into Cahill’s replacement Andreas Christensen on 55 minutes and was denied a penalty by referee Mike Jones. Chilwell’s first yellow card was for a foul on Willian, Fabregas’ replacement, and he was sent off on 68 minutes for the challenge that left Moses limping. Claude Puel declared both of the cards “harsh”.

“When we watch our game [back], we lost two points,” Puel said. “Of course there's a little disappointment at the end, but a good feeling to show our quality. They are champions playing at home, so it's a good feeling to see my players with this quality, and all the chances we created this afternoon.”

Chelsea had one final chance when substitute Vicente Iborra gave away a dangerous free-kick in the third minute of injury-time but Marcos Alonso dragged his shot wide, and it would have been hard to say they deserved the three points.



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Observer:

Chelsea take fortunate point from lively 10-man Leicester as fans grow restless

Chelsea 0 - 0 Leicester

Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge


Chelsea heaved in search of a winner deep into stoppage time here, the locals howling in exasperation as Kasper Schmeichel turned Marcos Alonso’s free-kick round a post, but plucking a victory from this mess of a display would have been an injustice. Too much of what they had offered up was inadequate. Discontent is welling in these parts and, for the first time, some of it is being directed at the dugout.

There were boos when Eden Hazard, for the fourth time in four starts, did not see out the game, and another disgruntled chorus to greet the final whistle. A third successive goalless draw represents a club record and underlines that this team’s domestic campaign has rather run aground. Leicester made them feel so ineffective, of course, and more than merited reward for a display that verged on dominance until the last half-hour. Yet the champions, even with their cluttered schedule, should offer more than this.

They have become too predictable, too overreliant for comfort upon their Belgium forward and with too few team-mates contributing at Hazard’s side. Álvaro Morata is enduring a lull in his first season in these parts and, one dart to the byline aside, was anonymous until booked three minutes from time, but the striker’s crisis in confidence is seeping into other areas of this collective. In the aftermath of Schmeichel’s save, Victor Moses sliced a shot so wide it almost drifted out for a throw-in. That, or Antonio Rüdiger dawdling in possession to be robbed by Jamie Vardy inside Chelsea’s penalty area, was more typical of his team’s display.


Antonio Conte was apparently not looking for excuses but cited the quick turnaround from Wednesday’s draining draw against Arsenal as key to this lethargic display. “I saw a lot of players very tired, very tired,” he said. “We suffered a lot in the first half and at the start of the second.” He cited fatigue for his decision to remove Hazard and Cesc Fàbregas just before the hour mark and pointed to the burst of energy provided by Pedro and Willian as key to a slightly more acceptable last 20 minutes. “But we must improve if we want to score and to win.” There have been four successive draws since the turn of the year.

The visitors might normally have been satisfied having played the last 22 minutes with their number depleted after the dismissal of Ben Chilwell, but the better chances and more coherent play had always been theirs. “If it had finished 11 versus 11, we would have got the win,” offered Claude Puel. His own players, their schedule less energy sapping and recovery time awarded in midweek, were sprightly in comparison and had swarmed over their hosts for long periods. No visiting team has managed as many as Leicester’s 12 first-half attempts since the first season of the Roman Abramovich era in south-west London. It was Chelsea’s good fortune that none was taken.


It was profligacy, a lack of “cutting edge” according to Puel, which saw them survive. An experienced back three were tormented by the pace of Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, who would still blot his copybook with a second-half dive over Andreas Christensen’s outstretched leg in search of a penalty. Gary Cahill had started ahead of the young Dane as the back-line’s central pivot, though he was left dizzied by a brutal first half-hour and would eventually depart prematurely clutching his right hamstring. It was telling that Christensen, rather than David Luiz, was summoned as a replacement.

By then, the contest should have been settled. Shinji Okazaki, poking awkwardly over the bar, and Vardy, who guided a shot into the side-netting, had both benefited from Chilwell’s fine delivery early on. Wilfred Ndidi thought he had registered at Mahrez’s deflected corner only for Thibaut Courtois to conjure a save at full stretch, with a succession of centres fizzed across Chelsea’s goalline somehow eluding Leicester’s players. There would be further opportunities after the break, with Courtois static and helpless as Mahrez’s shot catapulted off Christensen and dribbled just beyond a post.

Rarely under Conte’s stewardship has this side been so disjointed. their set-up clumsy and tentative in the face of their opponents’ frantic press, and uncertainty prevailing with so many players straining to rediscover form and rhythm. Even Hazard could not haul them from their malaise, the Belgian overelaborating in his desperation to make an impact. Conte was asked post-match about José Mourinho’s apparent “contempt” for him but merely batted it back with: “I’m not worried.” His team’s displays will be causing him far more concern.



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Independent:

Chelsea toothless once again as 10-man Leicester earn deserved point

Chelsea 0 Leicester 0: The Blues were thoroughly off colour and were perhaps fortunate to escape with a share of the points despite Ben Chilwell's sending off

Matt McGeehan Stamford Bridge

Chelsea endured a third successive goalless draw in an enthralling encounter against excellent 10-man Leicester.

Antonio Conte had been wary of the Foxes and his concern proved well founded as the movement and energy of Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki troubled Chelsea.

Leicester were relentless, playing like champions, with the intensity of their pressing forcing mistakes.

Ben Chilwell was sent off for two bookable offences in quick succession, leaving the visitors down to 10 men with 22 minutes remaining.

Yet still Chelsea, who had won their previous seven Premier League home games since September's loss to Manchester City, could not break the Foxes down as the Blues followed stalemates with Norwich and Arsenal with a third in a week.

Conte tinkered with his defence for the visit of Chelsea's predecessors as champions.

David Luiz was Conte's first choice in the centre of his back three in last season's title-winning campaign.


Now the Brazilian is apparently not even second choice as Gary Cahill was deployed in the central role, with Andreas Christensen rested on the bench alongside Luiz.

Cahill lasted just 33 minutes before going off clutching his right hamstring.

He had been given a torrid time by Vardy, who showed no signs of the groin injury which deprived him of a return to his former club Fleetwood a week ago.

The Foxes cut through their hosts time and again, with left-back Chilwell creating chances for Okazaki and Vardy, who next dragged an effort wide across goal.

Wilfred Ndidi's free header was saved by Thibaut Courtois before Cesc Fabregas forced a save from Kasper Schmeichel at the other end.


Only a well-timed Cahill tackle stopped Mahrez from shooting following a mazy run and then Eden Hazard should have punished the Foxes at the other end, only to shoot tamely at Schmeichel.

A race with Vardy culminated in Cahill stretching for the ball before hobbling off. Christensen went on, with Luiz not even asked to warm up.

Mahrez then drilled the ball across goal, but there was no-one in a black and gold shirt to convert.

Vardy then robbed Antonio Rudiger inside his own box. The ball went to Okazaki, whose effort was blocked into the path of Marc Albrighton. He fired wide.

Schmeichel saved from Fabregas before the break and Leicester continued to pressurise their hosts on the resumption.


Vardy nicked the ball off Christensen and found Mahrez, who initiated contact by kicking the Denmark defender.

The Foxes forward went to ground, seeking a penalty, but referee Mike Jones was unmoved and not inclined to dole out a yellow card for diving.

Mahrez next blasted a shot into Christensen and it deflected wide.

Conte had seen enough and made his final two changes. Willian and Pedro were sent on for the ineffective Hazard and Fabregas.



Willian lured a foul from Chilwell, who was booked after 63 minutes.

The left-back then caught Victor Moses late and was sent off after 68 minutes.

Long-range shots from Kante and Tiemoue Bakayoko were symptomatic of Chelsea's struggles to break Leicester down.

And Schmeichel turned a Marcos Alonso free-kick behind for a corner in stoppage time as Chelsea missed their last chance.




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Mail :

Chelsea 0-0 Leicester: Blues left frustrated by Foxes as Antonio Conte's men fail to score for a third successive game despite Ben Chilwell red card


By Oliver Holt For The Mail On Sunday


Chelsea took advantage of a brief lull in the fighting between Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho to play a football match at Stamford Bridge.

But if Conte was hoping the contest with Leicester would bring him some respite from the fractiousness that is lingering around him and the club, this goalless draw with a purring Leicester side was not the game to do it.

Conte’s side were comprehensively outplayed by Claude Puel’s visitors for two thirds of the game and were lucky to escape with a point. Even when Leicester were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute courtesy of Chilwell’s second yellow card, Chelsea rarely looked like breaking them down.


They are without a win in four games now and they left the field to yells of dismay from the crowd.

The result will do little to lift the air of siege that has settled around a manager who could do no wrong in his first season in west London but who has been a restless, fretful discontented presence during this campaign and has allowed himself to become thoroughly rattled by Mourinho’s expertly aimed barbs.

The build-up to this match had seen him fending off suggestions that he would leave the club at the end of the season and that either Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri or Luis Enrique had already been lined up to take over from him. The way his team played during this game suggested that all the off-the-field distractions may be taking their toll.


In this meeting of the two most recent Premier League champions, Leicester had begun playing as though it was they, not Chelsea, who were the current title holders. For much of the first half, they turned the clock back to the glory days of that fairy-tale season under Claudio Ranieri.

They overwhelmed Chelsea with the pace and guile of their play. Conte’s team struggled to cope with the combination of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez in particular. Their understanding seemed telepathic. The opening 45 minutes featured a succession of Leicester chances interrupted occasionally by a Chelsea foray upfield.

All the fluency and the technique belonged to the visitors. Chelsea looked slow and cumbersome and when they did have the ball, even Eden Hazard was careless in possession. Much of what he did was sublime. It always is. But after he had worked his magic with the ball, he too often gave it away.


Leicester should have taken the lead after eight minutes when Chilwell ran on to a long diagonal ball on the left flank and cut sharply inside. He dragged a cross back from the byline into the path of Okazaki but he could only lift it over the bar from close range when he should have scored.

Leicester spent the next few minutes peppering the Chelsea goal. Vardy flicked out a foot to steer a long ball from Chilwell into the sidenetting and then, a minute later, ran on to a through ball from James and drilled a shot across goal but just wide of the right hand post.

Leicester had another fine chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute when a corner from the right was allowed to bounce in the area. Ndidi guided the ball goalwards. Courtois flung himself to his right and palmed the ball away. Chilwell pounced on the rebound but his shot was blocked by Alonso at close range.

Only Fabregas offered much in the way of creative play going forward for Chelsea. Schmeichel saved well from him at his near post but it was not long before the home side were on the defensive again. This time, they were indebted to a fine saving tackle from Cahill that denied Mahrez after he had played a clever 1-2 with Okazaki.

Cahill went off soon afterwards with what looked like a hamstring injury and ten minutes into the second half, his replacement, Christensen, was at the centre of a penalty controversy. Mahrez burst into the box and even though Christensen did not make a tackle, Mahrez tumbled over him and Leicester bayed for a spot kick. Referee Mike Jones waved play on. It was the correct decision.


Mahrez was aggrieved by the decision and a minute later, his search for justice nearly brought a goal. He ran across the edge of the box from right to left and unleashed a shot at the Chelsea goal. It took a heavy deflection off Alonso that left Courtois rooted to the spot but it bounced just wide of the left hand post.

Leicester continued to dominate but Chelsea finally began to gain a foothold in the game when Conte brought on Willian and Pedro for Hazard and Costa and 22 minutes from the end, they were given another boost when Chilwell was sent off for second booking in six minutes, a studs-up tackle on Moses that might have been a straight red.

Chelsea pressed for a winner in the dying minutes and Schmeichel saved well from a bouncing Alonso free kick but Chelsea never really looked like getting the goal they needed. The air of gloom and infighting around Stamford Bridge lingers on.



CHELSEA: Courtois 7 – Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 7(Christensen 33 6), Rudiger 6 – Moses 5, Kante 6, Fabregas 7(Pedro 57 6), Bakayoko 4, Alonso 4 – Hazard 6(Willian 57 7), Morata 4.

SUBS NOT USED: Cabellero, Zappacosta, Batshuayi, David Luiz

BOOKED: Kante


LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel 7 – Amartey 6, Maguire 6, Dragovic 6, Chilwell 6 – Mahrez 8, Ndidi 7, James 7, Albrighton 7 – Okazaki 6, Vardy 7(Gray 82 6).

SUBS NOT USED: Gray, Iheanacho, Hamer, Slimani, Iborra, Benalouane

BOOKED: Chilwell, James, Okazaki

SENT OFF: Chilwell


MAN OF THE MATCH: Mahrez

REFEREE: Mike Jones

ATTENDANCE: 41,552


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Express:

Chelsea 0 - Leicester 0: Fans turn on Blues after another lacklustre performance

JEERS from the home fans filled the air at Stamford Bridge after the final whistle as Chelsea’s players trooped off in silent dismay. They’ve been heard more than a few times through years, of course.

By JIM HOLDEN


What has never happened before, not once in the 113-year history of this proud football club, is a run of three consecutive 0-0 draws.

That incredible statistic revealed the poverty of Chelsea in the past week, with goalless encounters with Norwich and Arsenal in cup-ties, and now against vibrant Leicester in the Premier League.

It explained the agitation of the Chelsea fans even though their club are still in all four competitions, and joint second in the League table this morning.Three goalless draws in succession --- that’s the number which matters, much more than another Chelsea could pluck out that says they have lost only once in their last 18 games.

And Chelsea were supremely fortunate to get a 0-0 yesterday because Leicester were clearly the superior team here.

They were more intelligent, more diligent and far more spirited. On another day they might have won by a couple of goals as their recent progress under manager Claude Puel was plain to see.

A key factor in that has been the revitalisation of Riyad Mahrez, who has found his dancing feet and precision passes.

Mahrez was the conductor of Leicester’s attacking orchestra, on song from the start. They created and spurned a series of early chances as Shinji Okazki scooped over the bar from close range and Jamie Vardy flicked an effort into the side-netting.

There should have been a goal when Mahrez waltzed to the touchline and crossed low across the face of goal --- but no team-mate could find a touch. Moments later Marc Albrighton shot inches wide.

Chelsea’s crowd were noisily frustrated, both by the dominance of Leicester and the poverty of their own side.


Morata was caught offside far too often; a player trying too hard for his own good. Cesc Fabregas was wayward in his passing and Tiemoue Bakayoko simply anonymous.

They had but one effort in the opening period, a fierce drive from Fabregas tipped over the bar by Kapser Schmeichel just before the break.

Whatever words of wisdom or anger Conte delivered to his team, the pattern remained the same in the second half; Leicester superior and creating the opportunities to score.

When Mahrez had a shot deflected just wide it prompted a double substitution, with the rare sight of Hazard being withdrawn, correctly, in an attempt to improve the team



Nothing helped Chelsea, not even the dismissal of Leicester left back Ben Chilwell in the 68th minute after a second yellow card for a lunging studs-showing challenge that caught Victor Moses on the shin.

Nobody could complain about that decision, but Leicester kept their discipline and organisation to comfortably hold out for a draw, the very least they deserved from the match.

Chelsea were restricted to long range shots. The only threat was deep into injury time when Schmeichel pushed away a curling free-kick from Marcos Alonso.


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Sun:


YOU BLUE IT

Chelsea 0 Leicester 0: Watch highlights as Blues squander huge chance to go second in the Premier League with goalless draw against ten-man Foxes

Ben Chilwell saw red in the second-half for two quick yellow cards, with Claude Puel's men clinging on by the end

By Andrew Dillon


EDEN HAZARD was substituted for the fourth game in a row as Chelsea’s wobbling front line struggled again.

The Belgian superstar revealed only this week that he is set to sign a new deal at the club once his compatriot and Blues 'keeper Thibaut Courtois does first.

But the £200million-rated midfielder was hauled off by frustrated boss Antonio Conte with more than half an hour left of an ineffective performance.

Hazard, 27, still has two-and-a-half years left on his £200,000-a-week deal with the Premier League champions but knows Real Madrid and most of the top sides would jump at the chance to sign him.

He took a long look at the Stamford Bridge scoreboard as he trudged off the field this afternoon to make a note of the time at which he was hooked.

It was the 58th minute of a game in which Chelsea were under the cosh from Leicester, in particular winger Riyad Mahrez. And they barely mounted an attack in response.


Hazard was also taken off early in Wednesday Carabao Cup semi final against Arsenal and in the Premier League match against the same opposition a week earlier.

Hazard was left out altogether from the weekend stalemate in the FA Cup at Norwich which replays on Wednesday.

Chelsea keeper Courtois was forced to make a drastic one-handed save from Wilfred Ndidi and striker Jamie Vardy shot into the side netting inside the first ten minutes.

Leicester had to play the last 22 minutes with ten men after left back Ben Chilwell was sent off for being booked twice - in four minutes.


Chilwell got his first yellow for fouling sub Willian and then lost his composure and put his studs into the shin of Victor Moses in the 68th-minute for the second.

Cesc Fabregas had a shot tipped over by Kasper Schmeichel in the first half.

Ultimately though, as Chelsea ramped up the pressure late in the game, the Foxes were able to cling on to a creditable draw.



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Star :

Chelsea 0 Leicester 0: Foxes give Blues big scare and hold on with 10 men

A family of four are giving Chelsea problems off the pitch – and yesterday their progress on it was held up by 14 players from Leicester.

By Paul Hetherington

And Leicester’s 14 men - including substitutes - also frustrated Chelsea for long periods in this entertaining match - and not through being negative.

The Foxes had 12 shots in the first half alone - the highest number by a visiting team at The Bridge for 15 years.

They ended the match with ten men following the sending off of Ben Chilwell, but it would have been unjust if they had left Chelsea empty handed.

It’s now three matches without a goal for Chelsea, who missed the chance to climb above Manchester United and go second in the table.

Storm clouds seem to have been gathering at Chelsea all season, despite last season’s title triumph.

And after their initial purposeful start, they could have been blown away by Leicester’s response.

In the space of four early minutes, the Foxes were close to scoring on three occasions.

On the first occasion, Shinji Okazaki sliced Chilwell’s inviting delivery across the face of the goal, then Jamie Vardy’s first-time effort from the full back’s fine pass travelled wide.

Leicester were then back again and Thibaut Courtois had to dive full length to keep out Wilfred Ndidi’s header.

The danger had not disappeared, though, and Victor Moses blocked Aleksandar Dragovic’s follow-up effort.

Chelsea finally threatened through Cesc Fabregas, but Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel was down quickly to make a smart save.

Leicester’s slick movement continued to cause Chelsea problems and Gary Cahill made a fine block from another Vardy effort.

The Chelsea crowd weren’t liking what they were seeing at that stage and murmurs of disapproval grew in volume.

The champions weren’t helped, either, when skipper Cahill had to be substituted in the 33rd minute with a hamstring problem.


Alvaro Morata got the crowd going with a fine run, but Leicester were always a threat and a Riyad Mahrez cross whistled across the face of the goal without anyone managing to get a touch.

Chelsea, at least, always had hope when Fabregas was involved and his second fine effort of an open match was turned over the bar by Schmeichel.

It was a surprise, therefore, when Fabregas was one of the players substituted by a clearly-unhappy Antonio Conte in the 58th minute.

That was just a minute after Leicester and their fans felt they should have had a penalty when Mahrez went down in the box.

But replays indicated that the Leicester winger had actually made contact with Andreas Christensen, rather than the other way round.

The Foxes were also unhappy when Chilwell was sent off in the 68th minute for a foul on Moses - his second yellow card in five minutes.

The busy N’Golo Kante, playing against the club with whom he made his reputation, tried to find a way through for Chelsea.

But his on-target strike was beaten down by Schmeichel.


Leicester ended the match reduced numerically, but not in resolve.

And their defence, with England’s Harry Maguire again impressive, stood firm.

But Schmeichel had to go full length to keep out a Marcos Alonso free kick in the fourth minute of added time.

Chelsea: Courtois 6; Azpilicueta 6, Cahill 6 (Christensen (33rd) 7), Rudiger 5; Moses 5, Fabregas 6 (Pedro (58th) 5), Kante 7, Bakayoko 6, Alonso 6; Hazard 5 (Willian (58th) 6); Morata 6.

Leicester: Schmeichel 7; Amartey 6, Dragovic 7, Maguire 8, Chilwell 6; Mahrez 7, Ndidi 7, James 6 (Iborra (90th)), Albrighton 6; Okazaki 6 (Fuchs (73rd) 5); Vardy 6 (Gray (82nd)).



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