Chelsea's growing mentality, Maresca's head in hands and Levi Colwill scare in dominant Leicester win

Chelsea went into the game against Leicester without two of their in-form players. Malo Gusto, the 21-year-old who has made it his mission to soften the blow of losing Reece James, fell ill and couldn’t play. Pedro Neto, the star of the show in the Arsenal game, where they battled to a draw, also missed out after taking a knock on international duty. But it didn’t matter, because Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca found a way to keep this well-oiled machine moving smoothly.

They were so dominant that it was hard to notice they were missing their direct winger and inverting full-back. Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the game was that Leicester were still in sight of a result and kept the game close, without necessarily being threat. Wins like this are what top teams are made of, and being at the King Power Stadium, watching how this Chelsea team is evolving in the right way, gives hope that the good days are not too far away.

So, on a really impressive day out in the Midlands, here are a few intriguing moments you might have missed from home or might not have seen on television.

The moment Maresca had his hands full

One of the most hilarious yet frustrating moments in the game came when, despite all his best efforts, Noni Madueke could not get out of the way of Cole Palmer’s goal-bound strike. Honestly, the replays still give chills, given how close the margins were. The game could have been sealed there, as there was little chance Leicester could come back from two goals down. The moment sparked an instinctive reaction from Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who briefly had his head in his hands before turning to the bench to try and understand what had happened.

Maresca isn’t quite at the level of Antonio Conte, who essentially kicks almost every ball with his players, but the Italian can be emotional on the touchline too, especially when he feels the team needs to feel his energy.

Another interesting example of his emotions came when he argued with the fourth official over a foul he felt Moisés Caicedo should have been awarded. But even he couldn’t keep a straight face when he saw how upset Caicedo was when, instead of a foul, the referee pointed to a corner against Chelsea.

Endless intake of Information

A good sign of a team on the rise is just how eager they are to learn. It was common in the first half to see players approach the touchline during a mini break, presumably for tactical tweaks or to pass on some information. The unity in the team is clear as day, and it’s obvious that everyone understands that minutes must be earned. Knowing your role and delivering as needed is the only way to keep your spot.

Jackson and Palmer maturing by the day

Nicolas Jackson has gone from being just a talent to a truly ruthless finisher. His goal against Leicester was world-class in so many ways, the perseverance, the strength, the touch, and the finish. It’s goals like these that made the likes of Didier Drogba and Diego Costa such iconic names at Stamford Bridge and in the Premier League.

But beyond the goals, Jackson also makes an effort to understand his teammates. Every time you see him, he’s speaking to or signaling a teammate about where he would like the ball or where he intends to make a run. At one point in the game, he was chatting with Palmer, seemingly pointing to areas where they could maximise their efforts. Go through his goals, and you’ll see Moisss Caicedo looking for him, and he and Palmer often take turns looking out for each other too. All top teams have players like this, and it’s clear Jackson is enjoying his game and playing at a higher level.

Colwill scare and Cucurella love

After the final whistle, Levi Colwill spent quite a while on the turf and needed medical treatment before he was able to walk off and head down the tunnel. It was a brilliant end to the game as most of the Chelsea players pushed Marc Cucurella toward the away fans to sing his name.

Not many players in the Chelsea team mirror the improvement of the team like the Spanish full-back. He had a difficult start to life as a Chelsea player, but he’s turned it around beautifully. It was truly heartwarming to see the entire away end singing his name and showing him just how much they care.