Chelsea secured a narrow victory over Leicester City, with Marc Cucurella’s second-half strike proving decisive after a largely uninspiring performance. Despite the win, some supporters at Stamford Bridge remain unconvinced by Enzo Maresca’s possession-heavy approach. The game was marked by moments of frustration from both the fans and the coach, with Maresca gesturing for more crowd support after Cucurella’s goal.
The atmosphere in the stadium reflected a general dissatisfaction with Chelsea’s labored approach against a struggling Leicester side, who have lost 12 of their last 13 matches and seem destined for relegation. Maresca defended his tactics, explaining that Leicester’s unexpected switch to a back five forced him to make adjustments, including instructing Cucurella to push forward more from left-back. However, Chelsea’s slow, methodical build-up play invited criticism, particularly when Enzo Fernández’s backpass was met with boos from the crowd.
The match began with an opportunity for Chelsea to take control when they were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute after Victor Kristiansen fouled Jadon Sancho. Cole Palmer, normally so reliable from the spot, saw his effort saved by Mads Hermansen. Palmer, who had been struggling with illness in the days leading up to the match, looked off the pace and has now gone nine games without a goal.
Leicester, managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, set up defensively and managed to stifle Chelsea’s attack for long periods. The visitors almost took the lead in bizarre fashion when James Justin’s cross led to a mix-up in the Chelsea defense, with Tosin Adarabioyo inadvertently hitting his own crossbar before Levi Colwill denied Jamie Vardy a tap-in.
Chelsea lacked urgency in their play, with Pedro Neto unable to break through Leicester’s defensive lines and Moisés Caicedo and Fernández struggling to impose themselves in midfield. Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku had quiet performances on the wings, while Wesley Fofana, returning from injury, offered little in terms of attacking support from right-back.
As frustration grew among the home supporters, Cucurella provided the breakthrough with a well-struck low drive from 20 yards that found the bottom corner. Maresca, relieved to see his team take the lead, used the moment to rally the fans, urging them to get behind the players.
Chelsea managed to hold on to their lead, with Leicester rarely threatening an equalizer. Vardy tested Robert Sánchez in goal at 0-0, but once Chelsea went ahead, the visitors lacked the cutting edge to mount a serious comeback. The win, though unconvincing, gives Chelsea some momentum heading into a crucial fixture against Arsenal.
