New money, same old Chelsea. Not a handsome win for the club who traditionally make heavy weather of seeing off humble opponents (and they do not come much humbler than Leicester City in the Premiership this season). A home win and a 100 per cent record will, however, have satisfied Claudio Ranieri, whose pleas for time to build his team look well advised.
One of those building blocks, match-winner Adrian Mutu, will be an integral part if this promising debut is anything to go by. His performance caught the eye in a fitful match that finished 2-1 to Chelsea on the pitch, 2-1 to Leicester in the early baths.
It does not happen often that half the team require introduction. Eight of Leicester's summer signings were involved here. Elsewhere, it took eight pages of the match programme to welcome the new acquisitions officially. First, though, Abramovich introduced himself to the fans on the first page. In sentiments worthy of an Oscar speech, he thanked everyone at his new club, 'especially the shareholders, who enthusiastically took up the offer to sell your shares'. It made a change from Ken Bates's acidic outpourings.
Chelsea pressure took, oh, all of about two minutes to put the frighteners on the visiting team, a slick one-two between Damien Duff and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink forcing a corner. In an instant the home team were ahead. Three new players combined for the opening goal (the fact that the two happened to be Leicester players was unfortunate). From Veron's lofted corner, John Curtis glanced the ball on and Lilian Nalis, a long-haired French midfielder who spent most of last season on the bench at Chievo in Serie A , thumped a header past Ian Walker.
Abramovich must have thought this football lark is a doddle. It would not be a case of sitting back to watch the goals flow, however, as City tightened their grip and had the audacity to man-mark in an attempt to stifle the great entertainers.
Ranieri the Tinkerman still has some work to do on the balance of the team. Who was on the left of midfield? Trick question. The answer was nobody because Veron continually drifted into the centre.
Chelsea were restricted to half-chances from long distance, with Mutu making a good impression in that regard. The Romanian lashed in a shot from long range on the quarter-hour mark, well smothered by Walker. Two minutes later Mutu was officially welcomed to English football when Curtis's stamp left him with a bleeding hand. He returned from the treatment room bandaged, but in no way daunted.
Leicester were beginning to find a foothold in the match. Paul Dickov, James Scowcroft and Muzzy Izzet provided rare moments of respite from the rearguard action. Confidence began to expand as they began actually to keep the ball and venture forward. All the same, Chelsea's princes did not expect to be pegged back by paupers.
Five minutes before half-time, Leicester's persistence paid off, as Scowcroft leapt above John Terry to arc Izzet's free-kick into the top corner. Abramovich shrugged his left shoulder and forced a smile. The visiting team's fans hailed their own super-hero saviour, chanting for Gary Lineker.
Five minutes later, Chelsea retrieved the lead. Mutu's right-foot free-kick ricocheted off the wall and with his left he struck with venomous power and swerve past Walker. Deadly from the man they call The Snake.
Chelsea searched to give the match the kind of scoreline that logic had suggested after the break. Besides, with Joe Cole, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jesper Gronkjaer warming up on the touchline, the incentive to perform well was not far away.
Hasselbaink, whose position seems increasingly under threat, whatever the protestations from player and club, should have scored when he outwitted Walker but could only squeeze a shot against the near post. Then, helping an excellent move along with an exchange of passes with Duff, he watched as the mercurial Irishman come close with a first-time drive.
The complexion of the match altered when Chelsea were reduced to 10 men. Geremi lunged, studs up, into Riccardo Scimeca's shins and referee Rob Styles showed the Cameroon player the red card without hesitation.
Would the first chapter of the Roman story here have an unhappy ending? Scowcroft went close with a header, but it was the depleted favourites who kept the pressure on Walker's goal. The numerical disadvantage was reversed soon enough when Alan Rogers was sent off for kicking out at Gronkjaer and Scimeca followed five minutes later for a tackle from behind.
Leicester still were not finished and substitute Brian Deane scooped a header against the crossbar. Nor were Chelsea, who saw Cole hammer the crossbar in the dying seconds.
Man of the match
Adrian Mutu, Chelsea The new striker's elegant and intelligent movement off the ball will make him a nightmare to defend against in the Premiership this season. As will his physique, control and shooting prowess with either foot. It looks as though Roman Abramovich's roubles have been very well spent.
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