Independent:
Leicester 1 Chelsea 3: Foxes winning run ends but Esteban Cambiasso can keep escape attempt alive
Leicester gave Chelsea a scare before eventually losing
Simon Hart
Nigel Pearson knows all about escape acts. He was manager of the Carlisle United side saved from relegation to the Conference by an injury-time winner from his goalkeeper, Jimmy Glass. He was also on the West Bromwich Albion bench when they jumped three places off the bottom of the Premier League on the last day in 2004/05. There was also his own personal Houdini moment when he was reportedly sacked, then reappointed on one strange weekend in February.
What his Leicester City side have produced this past month continues that theme, but the miracle run – four straight top-flight wins for the first time since the 1960s for a team hitherto winless since January – came to an end last night. “Ruining football since 2003” read a banner held aloft in the Chelsea end before kick-off and they certainly spoiled Leicester’s evening.
“Fearless” read the message on the paper clappers – the brainchild of the club’s Thai owners – which were left on the seat of every home fan before kick-off. A modern spin on the old rattle, they certainly raised the noise levels and for 45 minutes the King Power Stadium felt as energised as Pearson’s resurgent side went in search of their biggest surprise yet.
Contrary to expectation Pearson sent out an unchanged team, seeking to maintain momentum despite Saturday’s early kick-off against Newcastle United. He was not helped by the loss of Andy King to injury after 19 minutes and Robert Huth, such an influence since arriving on loan from Hull, followed him off five minutes later with an ankle problem. Despite full-back Ritchie de Laet’s efforts to plug the gap, Huth’s departure would prove particularly costly, though initially, with Didier Drogba initially labouring in attack, a shock still felt possible despite Chelsea’s better possession.
One feature of Leicester’s recent success has been their tactical flexibility and it undoubtedly helps him to have a player with the knowhow and experience to put these changes into effect out on the pitch. This is where Esteban Cambiasso plays a key role and for 45 minutes at least he did just that.
When he last played in a match involving Jose Mourinho, he was carrying out the Portuguese manager’s instructions in Internazionale’s 2010 Champions League final triumph over Bayern Munich, and in the first half the influence of the former Argentine international was unmissable.
In one of his early press briefings in the East Midlands he dismissed the suggestion that at 34 he might struggle with the pace of the game. “I don’t know any player who can run faster than the ball,” he replied – and he showed equally quick wit last night.
There was an early show of class as he dispossessed Willian and, despite slipping on to his backside, flicked the ball up and over the Brazilian’s head on to a team-mate. Despite a role just in front of the home defence, he then got behind the Chelsea defence to tee up Marc Albrighton for a blocked shot after Paul Konchesky’s effort had come back off a post. Tellingly, he was also in referee Mark Clattenburg’s ear, which may have helped him escape a booking after an apparent stamp Eden Hazard’s foot.
That experience will have informed him not to get carried away when Leicester went in front through Albrighton on the stroke of half-time. The source of the goal was a familiar ploy – a ball down the channel for the tireless Jamie Vardy to race on to and supply the cross which, via Cesar Azpilicueta’s slip, ran on to Albrighton to finish.
It was a good time to score yet, tellingly, Cambiasso left the pitch gesturing like one of Harry Enfield’s Scousers, urging his team-mates to calm down. He knows better than anybody how a Mourinho team works and so it proved in the second period.
The home side’s work rate remained fantastic but Chelsea, buoyed by that equaliser straight after the restart, made their class tell. The pity for Cambiasso is he was beaten by John Terry to the ball that the Chelsea captain bundled over the line for the second goal and that was that.
For Leicester, the winning run is over, but they remain a point clear of the bottom three and with home games against Newcastle, Southampton and Queen’s Park Rangers to come, they will go again. The clappers will be back on Saturday and Pearson’s escapologists will get back to work.
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Telegraph:
Leicester City 1 Chelsea 3
Champions elect come from behind to lay one hand on Premier League title
Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ramires all score after going down to first-half strike from Marc Albrighton
By Henry Winter, King Power Stadium
And that’s why they’re champions-elect. Chelsea showed guts in their response to adversity. And that’s why Chelsea can wrap up the title on Sunday with a win against Crystal Palace, placing the onus on Steven Gerrard and Liverpool to form a guard of honour on May 10. Stamford Bridge would love that.
Instead Jose Mourinho gathered his players in the dressing room at the break, tore into them, reminding them of their responsibilities and of the prize at stake, and they were a totally different side when they returned, playing with confidence, power and pace, playing like champions. The old firm of Didier Drogba and John Terry scored to turn the game on its head.
Ramires made it 3-1 to the visitors with an exquisite finish, rifling the ball in as the away corner chanted “boring, boring Chelsea”.
There was nothing boring about Chelsea after the break, just as there had been nothing boring about Chelsea before Christmas when they played some scintillating football, particularly with Diego Costa in his predatory pomp. As before Christmas, so after the interval here, Chelsea played with the handbrake off, with their tails up.
They are now 13 points clear. It is now down to other teams to challenge them properly next season, for Manchester City to rejuvenate their squad and regain their edge, for Arsenal to acquire the tactical nous and psychological strength to live with them and for Manchester United to hold on to David de Gea and buy the two or three players to take the fight to Mourinho’s men.
There is plenty of sniping from rivals at Chelsea, and undoubtedly some of their fans can be charmless at times. “You’ve had your day out, now f--- off home,” the 3,341 Chelsea fans chanted at their Leicester counterparts, whose passionate backing of their under-pressure team helped underpin their recent resurgence. The visitors' more frequent song was the mocking “boring, boring Chelsea”.
Hardly. Chelsea had also appeared keen to confront the “boring” criticism. Drogba posted a video of him, Terry and other team members playing head tennis at the dinner table. “It is amazing football,’’ Mourinho said with a smile. “Only one take. If we [the coaches] do it, we destroy the table!” He also explained why he was cleaning his footwear in the second half, apparently having stubbed it in the chalk, confirming that Chelsea are a shoe-in for the title.
His team also boast the PFA Player of the Year in Eden Hazard, who has vivified games. They have Cesc Fabregas, who recorded his 17th assist of the Premier League season, moving one behind Frank Lampard’s mark from 2004/05 and closing on Thierry Henry’s record of 20 from 2002-03. They have Willian, who was tireless here. They have Nemanja Matic, who would walk into any Premier League midfield, bringing energy and control, and who was one of the “giants” Mourinho referred to at the King Power.
Like him or loathe him as a person, and he won’t win many popularity contests at Sunday school, Terry is the most commanding centre-half in the Premier League, of any nationality. In a sport where leaders are not commonplace, Terry stands out even more. His goal took him alongside David Unsworth as the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history with 38 goals.
Chelsea will be deserved champions because they have the best balance between defence and attack, because they have leaders like Terry who drive them on, because they have the creativity of Hazard and Fabregas and because they have Mourinho. He ripped into his players, punctuating his rallying cry with swear words. He remains the most inspirational manager in the Premier League, a tactician who outwits his rivals, who organises and motivates them.
They had needed shaking up. For 45 minutes, Chelsea were on the back foot, struggling to live with Leicester. Pearson was accused of ranting at a reporter after this frustrating defeat, and it was a cheap shot from the Leicester manager to an innocent inquiry about apparent criticism of his players, but he remains a manager in control. His players are clearly playing for him, following his orders, knowing that had steered them to four wins on the spin before this.
Vardy set the tone, immediately hounding Branislav Ivanovic. For a half, there was no standing on ceremony by the hosts for such august guests, no reverence shown to Mourinho’s side. Playing against his old Inter Milan boss, Cambiasso was a model of industry and invention. In one move, he fell over in closing down Willian but still showed wonderful footwork in juggling the ball past the Brazilian.
The Argentine midfielder then conjured up one of the passes of the season, a gem swept from left of centre to Leonardo Ulloa in the box, a delivery that demanded so much more than the striker’s clunky first touch. For all this admirable approach work, Petr Cech was not tested on his sixth Premier League appearance of the season until five minutes from the break when Leicester laid siege to his goalmouth and, particularly, when Albrighton arrived to apply the decisive touch of the first half.
On it went from the early stages, Albrighton pressing Hazard and Danny Drinkwater harrying Willian. Leicester briefly lost some momentum with injuries: Andy King and then Robert Huth limped away, being replaced by Matty James and Ritchie de Laet respectively. There was no self-pity from Leicester, no let-up in their hungry work and certainly no diminution of the noise levels set by their supporters. The volume rose when Paul Konchesky hit a post and exploded when Vardy stroked the ball across from the left, and César Azpilicueta slipped on the greasy surface. Albrighton kept his footing and composure and rolled the ball past Cech.
Mourinho went to work on his players. Three minutes after the restart, Chelsea were level. Ivanovic marauded in from the right, Drogba got in ahead of Morgan and steered a shot past Kasp[er Schmeichel. Eleven minutes from time, Chelsea took the lead. From a Fabregas corner, Gary Cahill headed goalwards, and Schmeichel dropped to his left to save superbly.
Terry was quickest to the loose ball, flicking it home. Then came Fabregas passing smoothly to Ramires, who made it 3-1 to Chelsea with a left-footed strike. “Boring, boring Chelsea” came the chant from the visiting fans, followed by “are you watching, Arsenal?”
Chelsea have thrown down the gauntlet for next season and it is now down to Arsenal, City, United and others to pick it up.
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Guardian:
John Terry leads from front for Chelsea after Leicester’s early promise
Leicester 1 - 3 Chelsea
Daniel Taylor at the King Power Stadium
By the end, José Mourinho’s only real issue seemed to be the flecks of dirt that were threatening to ruin his brown suede shoes on the muddy touchline. Chelsea’s manager had retreated to his seat and was busy cleaning them with his drink bottle when Ramires arrowed in the third goal of a night that leaves the Premier League leaders one win away from being confirmed as champions. Mourinho, one imagines, will not mind too much if the stains don’t come out.
For a while, his team had looked like they might stretch out the conclusion to the title race longer than anyone had anticipated. Leicester played with great togetherness in the first half and at the interval were threatening to make to it five successive top-flight wins for the first time since 1964. Instead, that turned out to be the point at which Chelsea reminded everyone why they are the best team in this division. The comeback was laced with expertise and their supporters took great joy in mimicking the “Boring, boring Chelsea” chants that had irritated Mourinho more than he was probably willing to let on at Arsenal last Sunday.
He had let off the handbrake here and his players certainly made the point that it is not an uninteresting team that ends the season on an open-top bus. Cesc Fàbregas, in particular, underlined how remarkable it was that he did not make it on to the Professional Footballers’ Association team of the year. Didier Drogba showed glimpses of his old self and it was typical of John Terry that it was his goal, coming forward from defence, that put Chelsea into the lead 11 minutes from time. “Giants of the pitch,” Mourinho called them.
Chelsea certainly had to show great perseverance because Leicester did not resemble a side who had spent seven-eighths of the season looking like certainties for the relegation morgue.
Nigel Pearson’s team set off without even a flicker of trepidation. They pressed and they harried but they also played with width and penetration and Esteban Cambiasso’s touches in midfield must have reminded Mourinho about his contribution when Internazionale won the Champions League in 2010. Cambiasso produced one of the night’s outstanding moments to deceive Willian with some improvisational ball-juggling. The Argentinian was on the floor at the time and that, perhaps, summed up the new confidence of this team.
They also had some rotten luck given the way injuries sabotaged their planning. Andy King was the first player to be forced off after 19 minutes. Robert Huth followed five minutes later and, in the face of all this disruption Leicester did extraordinarily well to keep their structure and take the lead through Marc Albrighton in first-half stoppage time.
What they could not do was hold out early in the second half, when it was obvious Chelsea would come back at them. Afterwards, Mourinho was asked what he had said at half-time. “If I told you there would be too many peeps,” he said. Harsh words were exchanged and Chelsea came out reinvigorated.
Drogba’s equaliser came three minutes after the restart and, from that point onwards Leicester barely threatened again. Fàbregas’s ability to show for the ball was hugely influential whereas the quick, incisive football involving Willian and Eden Hazard was a frequent danger. Terry’s goal came from a corner, reacting first after Kasper Schmeichel had palmed away a splendid, twisting header from Gary Cahill. Ramires added the final flourish with a lovely left-foot shot from Fàbregas’s pass and Mourinho could talk afterwards about how pleasing it would be to clinch the title on their own ground. By the time Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday week a guard of honour might be needed.
Diego Costa might also be back this weekend, Mourinho confirmed, and Thibaut Courtois should also be fit after missing this game because he was still feeling a bang to a hip. Petr Cech was deputising and four minutes before the interval we were reminded that Chelsea have the best second-choice goalkeeper in the business with his save to turn Paul Konchesky’s snap-shot against a post.
Those moments gave Leicester encouragement to think their opponents might be vulnerable and in their next attack Jamie Vardy ran through the inside-left then turned the ball across the penalty area where, for once, Chelsea’s back four was out of position. César Azpilicueta slipped and that left Albrighton in space to pick his spot.
Leicester could also reflect on that moment early on when Cambiasso’s pass gave Leonardo Ulloa the chance to run clear only for the striker to waste the opportunity with a wretched first touch. Yet their shortcomings were exposed in the second half. Fàbregas was superb and it was his little up-and-over ball that took out three opponents in the moments before the equaliser. Branislav Ivanovic was forward again and Drogba, anticipating the cross, got in front of Ritchie De Laet to flash his shot past Schmeichel.
What followed had an air of inevitability. “We played so well, so fluid,” Mourinho reflected, and they did not look like a team who will miss the opportunity against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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Mail:
Leicester 1-3 Chelsea: Jose Mourinho's side one win away from being crowned Premier League champions after fighting back from a goal down to overcome Nigel Pearson's battlers
Matt Barlow
Didier Drogba was utterly exhausted and emotionally drained as he and John Terry held each other up through a post-match flash interview.
It was as if these two warriors might collapse on camera if either of them moved, so they clung on and spoke happily if wearily after supplying the goals which fuelled this fight-back at Leicester.
Drogba is into his 38th year and could be doing something a little more leisurely than leading the line through 90 minutes at the sharp end of the season. Centre-forward is a demanding role in any team, let alone one of Jose Mourinho’s.
But he and Terry are not shaped that way and the pride burned through their yellow shirts as they led their team-mates to salute three thousand noisy Chelsea supporters in the corner of the King Power Stadium.
They had trailed to a goal from Marc Albrighton after a slightly lethargic first-half display but came out inspired and soon levelled through Drogba, before Terry put the Londoners ahead, 12 minutes from time, and Ramires curled the third into the top corner.
The strike by Ramires triggered an ironic chorus of 'Boring Boring Chelsea' from the visiting fans and they sang long into the night, aware that their team can be crowned champions on Sunday at Stamford Bridge if they beat Crystal Palace.
Mourinho tried to play down the party vibe but they will come in expectation because this has the feel of a procession after breaking through an awkward sequence of games with only one fit centre-forward, who happened to be 37.
Drogba’s legs don’t cover quite the same ground at quite the same rate as they once did. He rarely gets clear of the back-line, it has been a long time since he screamed one into the top corner and his touch can be heavy.
Until Wednesday night it had been a long time since he found the net. You have to go all the way back to Newcastle away in December, when he came on in a bid to rescue Chelsea from their first defeat of the campaign, and almost managed it.
Drogba has an impossible-to-pin-down ability to influence the game and his desire glows as fiercely as ever. He energised Chelsea with the equaliser - just as he once did in Munich in the Champions League final.
He missed chances and he might have scored more, but he never stopped showing for the ball or leading by example to those team-mates who have yet to cross this finish-line in a title race, as injured striker Diego Costa and Loic Remy looked on from the stands.
Mourinho wanted all of his squad to travel and prepare together at St George’s Park as a show of solidarity as they closed in on the goal.
This was where the head-tennis video was filmed which went viral on Wednesday.
Six Chelsea players headed the ball back and forth across the dinner table until it reached John Obi Mikel, on the end, who nodded it into a bin. Judging by the celebrations which followed, Remy is not far from a return.
On Wednesday, it was over to the legends who have made the journey before to respond to the challenge set down by Nigel Pearson’s vibrant team, who offered more evidence, even in defeat, that they are capable of surviving the drop.
Terry scored his seventh of the season, forcing the ball in from close range after Kasper Schmeichel had saved from Gary Cahill at a corner.
And Petr Cech came in for Thibaut Courtois and played superbly, making a crucial save to thwart Paul Konchesky when the game was goalless.
Courtois hurt his hip during Sunday’s draw at Arsenal and was on the bench. Cech came in for only his fifth Premier League game of the season, but buoyed by the knowledge he had not conceded in this competition for more than a year.
Leicester started at a healthy tempo, seeking to use the electric pace of Jamie Vardy, only to see their rhythm disrupted to injuries which forced Andy King and Robert Huth off before the interval.
Chelsea dominated from midway through the first half but that did not prevent Leicester from taking the lead on the break when Matty James released Vardy down the left.
Vardy beat Terry to the ball and cut his cross low and deep. It might have been aimed at Leonardo Ulloa, but it bypassed the Argentine striker and Cesar Azpilicueta slipped as he tried to adjust his feet.
The upshot was a simple finish for Albrighton, arriving late with the ball set nicely and Cech’s goal hopelessly exposed. He had not scored for more than four years but he made no mistake, sliding it low into the net.
The King Power erupted as home fans detected an improbably fifth win on the bounce and another year in this lofty company.
But Drogba soon punctured those hopes when he reacted swiftly to beat substitute Ritchie de Laet to a low cross from Branislav Ivanovic and hooked it past Schmeichel.
It was a different game from this point. Chelsea had re-emerged in a different mood. There was extra urgency about their game and they would go on to win by more than one goal for the first time since a 5-0 win against Swansea in mid-January.
Drogba fired one chance over and another wide but Terry produced the second, just as it seemed Mourinho would have to settle for a point.
It could have been many more but Ramires made it three. And it wasn’t boring at all.
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Mirror:
Leicester City 1-3 Chelsea: Blues come from behind to end Foxes unbeaten run and close on the title
By Mike Walters
Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ramires notched second-half goals to move the Blues one win from the Premier League championship
Instead of the title race being a cliffhanger, it's a Cliff Richard – we've got ourselves a crying, walking, sleeping, talking, living dull climax at the summit.
Chelsea are just three points from the title and, if they take care of business on Sunday against Crystal Palace, Jose Mourinho can order the open-topped bus.
It took two goals in the last 12 minutes to break Leicester's resistance.
But 13 points clear isn't boring – it's a procession.
Scoring 68 goals in 34 games isn't boring – it's a better strike rate than British Leyland in the days of feared shop steward Red Robbo.
Going to Arsenal and smothering their exotic forwards under a defensive blanket isn't boring. It's a comfort rug for those who fear clean sheets were an endangered species in English football.
And winning the title with three weeks to spare isn't boring. It just shows Chelsea are a team ahead of their time. About three weeks ahead of their time.
Last night they responded like champions after falling behind at the King Power.
They were blunt and uninspired for 45 minutes, but when the chips were down the Blues were stout of heart, firm of rectum and, yes, stylish.
Leicester, disrupted by injuries to Andy King and Robert Huth inside the first 25 minutes, we can deal with summarily.
They are not going down.
After springing the escape hatch with four wins on the bounce, they came close to a bonus point – and their commitment bordered on sensational.
Backs to the wall for long periods as they reorganised their shape and tactics, they summoned the willpower to lift the siege and snatch an unlikely lead in first-half stoppage time.
Petr Cech had already been required to make a sprawling low save to deny Paul Konchesky before Jamie Vardy escaped down the left, Cesar Azpilicueta located a stray banana skin on the greasy surface, and Marc Albrighton punished his slip with a slick finish.
Mourinho administered a piece of his mind with the slices of orange at the break, and you could tell boring, boring Chelsea meant business when they emerged for the second half because Cesc Fabregas had removed his Phantom of the Opera mask.
Sure enough, after the Special One had stripped the paint from the visitors' dressing room walls, it took Chelsea fewer than three minutes to respond.
Branislav Ivanovic, rampaging into the box without an escort, picked out Didier Drogba with a low centre and the old warhorse tucked away his seventh goal of the season.
Drogba may not be the barnstorming warrior of old, but you can't knock spots off a decorator's radio and at 37 you can't knock spots off Drogba's eye for goal.
"We shall not be moved, running football since 2003" read one banner among the 3,300 away supporters – and Chelsea's strong finish proved them right.
Leicester's resolve never buckled, but going to watch Chelsea these days is like watching your favourite film.
You've seen it dozens of times before and you know how it's going to end, but you still watch it all the way through anyway.
From a left-wing corner delivered by the man without the mask, Gary Cahill's header was parried by Kasper Schmeichel – but John Terry was on hand to poke the rebound over the line.
Captain, Leader, Legend is not everyone's cup of tea, but it still beggars belief that England coach Roy Hodgson hasn't invited him to Wembley and put the kettle on to discuss an international curtain call.
Chelsea's encore here, seven minutes from time, was another slick production as Fabregas teed up Ramires to make it 3-1 with a sweet left-footer from the edge of the box.
From that moment, Leicester knew it was all over. And on Sunday, the title race will probably be over, too.
“Boring, boring Chelsea,” sang the travelling missionaries from west London mockingly.
Nah, this lot aren't boring to watch. They are simply the best team in the country.
Leicester XI: Schmeichel; Wasilewski, Huth, Morgan; Albrighton, King, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Konchesky; Vardy, Ulloa.
Subs used: James (King 19'), De Laet (Huth 24'), Mahrez (Vardy 77')
Subs not used: Schwarzer, Hammond, Wood, Kramarić.
Chelsea XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian, Fabregas, Hazard; Drogba. [4-2-3-1]
Subs used: Zouma (Willian 84'), Cuadrado (Hazard 88'), Mikel (Fabregas 90')
Subs not used: Courtois, Filipe Luis, Ake, Oscar
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Express:
Leicester 1 - Chelsea 3: Veterans power past Foxes as Blues inch closer to title
THE OLD guard are steering Chelsea home to this Premier League title, inch by inch, point by point, trick by trick.
By TONY BANKS
On a bruising, challenging night at the King Power Stadium, as Leicester gave all they had, it was Didier Drogba and John Terry who grabbed the crucial goals that leave Chelsea just three points from their fourth Premier League title.
After Marc Albrighton had given relegation-threatened Leicester a shock lead, it was 37-year-old Drogba who calmed the nerves with the equaliser.
Terry, another survivor from Jose Mourinho’s first two titles, then added a killer second and Ramires rubbed salt in the wound.
The fat lady may not be singing yet, but she is certainly clearing her throat – and the celebrations look set to begin against Crystal Palace on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
Leicester went into the game having won their previous four matches, having won only four all season beforehand. Suddenly there was light at the end of what had been a very dark tunnel.
Whether Chelsea would allow that light to carry on flickering was another matter. Stricken by injuries, especially in attack, Mourinho’s team had been grinding out the results. They had not conceded a goal in their previous three games.
There had been speculation that Leicester manager Nigel Pearson would rest players last night, with more ‘winnable’ games against Newcastle and Southampton to come, to which he had reacted angrily.
In the end he kept the same team that won so crucially at Burnley last Saturday. Drogba returned up front for Chelsea, but with Thibaut Courtois injured, Petr Cech, who had not conceded a goal in five league appearances this season, stepped in.
Leicester were lively from the start but they were almost caught out by a lightning Willian break, only for Drogba to screw his shot horribly.
Pearson’s men though were brimming with new-found confidence, and Wes Morgan nodded just wide as they kept probing.
But then both Andy King and Robert Huth limped off in quick succession, and as they tried to settle, Drogba turned to shoot wide.
It was a familiar tale, Chelsea allowing their opponents plenty of possession but letting them do little with it. Better teams than Leicester had been flummoxed by those methods this season.
Substitute Matty James tried his hand from long range, but neither goalkeeper had been really troubled.
That was until Albrighton crossed from the right and Paul Konchesky caught Ramires napping, as he sneaked in at the back to force Cech to save low down by his post.
Chelsea did not clear the ball though, and Albrighton saw his close-range shot blocked by Gary Cahill in a frantic scramble.
It had been a fortunate escape for the title favourites, but it was only a temporary respite as Leicester broke the deadlock just before half-time.
Jamie Vardy broke down the left and crossed low, Cesar Azpilicueta disastrously slipped, and Albrighton fired low into the net. The King Power Stadium erupted.
However, the home fans were silenced three minutes into the second half as Chelsea drew level. Branislav Ivanovic turned James and broke to the byline.
The Serb crossed low and there was the old warrior Drogba to slide in the equaliser – his seventh goal of the season and his first since December.
Drogba could have put Chelsea ahead a minute later, but blazed his shot high and wide from Cesc Fabregas’s pass.
Mourinho had clearly had words with his troops at half-time and they were far more aggressive.
Fabregas put Drogba away again and this time the Ivorian, out of contract at the end of this season, shot across the face of goal.
But then the killer. Fabregas floated in a corner from the left, Gary Chaill flicked on, and there was Terry to nip in front of Esteban Cambiasso as Kasper Schmeichel flailed to stab in.
Four minutes later, Fabregas teed up Ramires with a lovely pull-back and the Brazilian fired in number three. It is what title-winning teams do – kill their opponents off.
Leicester (3-5-2 ): Schmeichel; Wasilewski, Huth (De Laet 23), Morgan; Albrighton, King (James 17), Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Konchesky; Vardy (Mahrez 76), Ulloa. Booked: Konchesky. Goal: Albrighton 45. NEXT UP: Newcastle (h), PL Sat.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Matic; Willian (Zouma 84), Fabregas (Mikel 90), Hazard (Cuadrado 88); Drogba. Goals: Drogba 48, Terry 79, Ramires 83. NEXT UP: Crystal Palace (h), PL Sun.
Referee: M Clattenburg (County Durham).
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Star:
Leicester 1 Chelsea 3: Second-half BLITZ leaves Blues on the brink of Premier League glory
CHELSEA were stunned into drastic action to keep them on course to become champions on Sunday.
By Dave Armitage
Three second half goals saw off gallant Leicester and set things up perfectly for Jose Mourinho’s men to seal the title for the fourth time in ten years against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
In the end, they ran out comfortable winners but only after being rocked on their heels right on half time when the Foxes threatened to wreck their party plans.
Marc Albrighton gave Leicester a shock, but thoroughly deserved, lead and Chelsea were flustered over their half-time cuppa.
Mourinho didn’t need to tell his men that he wants this title wrapping up at the earliest opportunity and they served up the goods with a dominant second half showing.
'Boring, boring Chelsea' came the ironic chants from the Blues fans as goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ramires put Leicester to the sword.
Chelsea are now 13 points clear at the top and a win against Palace secures their first title in five years.
But, Mourinho had to rely on his old guard to come up trumps after Albrighton’s goal floored his men.
First Drogba struck, then skipper Terry led from the front yet again before Ramires wrapped it up late on.
If either side deserved to lead going in at the break it was The Foxes, but as the clock ticked away on the three minutes of stoppage time a goal seemed unlikely.
Then the stadium erupted as Albrighton picked the perfect moment to score his first goal for the club with less than a minute to the whistle.
What a cracker it was too as Leicester caught Chelsea back-peddling with a lightning break down the left.
Leo Ulloa turned briskly and skimmed a ball across the wet surface to where the tireless Jamie Vardy was charging towards the edge of the box.
Vardy eventually found himself too wide to take a pot at goal and was forced to cut the ball back.
What he couldn’t have banked on was Cesar Azpilicueta slipping as he tried to intervene and the ball fell straight into Albrighton’s path.
The winger took his time and did exactly the right thing, sidefooting a low shot into the bottom corner to stun Chelsea.
Mourinho’s men had been given enough warnings from a side who jumped out of the bottom for the first time in five months on the back of four successive wins.
But Drogba fired them level within three minutes of the re-start and Cesc Fabregas should have put them ahead a minute later.
Drogba showed lightning speed of thought when he got on the end of Ivanovic’s cross after a wonderful clipped ball by Eden Hazard.
The powerhouse striker reacted in a flash, making sure he was first to the ball and diverting it past Kasper Schmeichel.
Fabregas messed up a great opportunity straight after, completely missing the ball after Willian had set him up with a cross from the right.
Cech had to be at his brilliant best when Paul Konchesky’s shot looked destined for the bottom corner.
Then Terry proved what he’s all about, kneeing the ball home from close range in the 79th minute to give his men the lead.
It was quick thinking by the skipper who cashed in after Schmeichel had done well to save Cahill’s goalbound header.
Chelsea couldn’t rest easy with just one goal advantage against such plucky opponents and up stepped Ramires with a stunner of a goal.
He fired the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box after Fabregas had cut the ball back into his path.
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