Foxes End Season With Chelsea Draw
Donning their new 2019/20 home kit, the Foxes delivered an assured display to finish ninth in the Premier League standings during their fifth-consecutive season in England’s top flight.
Denmark international Kasper Schmeichel was forced into making an early save with his chest after Ross Barkley drifted into the box before unleashing a powerful volley.
Willy Caballero was tested by Ben Chilwell with 17 minutes on the clock as the Academy graduate played a one-two with Jamie Vardy before curling an effort on goal.
The Blues stopper was called into action again just after the half-hour mark as Chilwell combined with Vardy for a second time, as the left-back’s free-kick was glanced into the arms of Caballero by the City No.9.
Opportunities for both sides to open the scoring ahead of the the interval followed, but Youri Tielemans was forced wide and denied by Caballero, before Gonzalo Higuaín missed a big chance from six yards out.
Tielemans had another attempt after the break as his sweetly-struck volley sailed inches wide of the target, while wayward strikes from Marcos Alonso and Barkley failed to trouble Schmeichel.
Standing ovations for Danny Simpson and Shinji Okazaki followed, as they were introduced for their final appearances at Leicester City having played pivotal roles in the Club’s 2015/16 Premier League glory.
With 10 minutes to play, Okazaki nearly got on the end of a Chilwell cross, but he couldn’t make a connection and Chelsea were able to clear the danger.
A final opportunity for City followed with a minute to play, as Tielemans collected a pass from Harvey Barnes and hammered a strike just over from range – the Foxes’ final effort of 2018/19.
The day concluded with a lap of appreciation during which the Blue Army passionately chanted ‘Vichai’ as Khun Top, the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the Club’s players and staff all thanked Leicester City’s fans for their support during 2018/19.
Major moment
Perhaps City’s best opportunity of the game came on the stroke of half-time. Jamie Vardy wrong-footed David Luiz and drifted past the Brazilian defender before offloading to Youri Tielemans.
However, there was too much on the pass and Tielemans was forced wide before having a strike saved by Willy Caballero from a tight angle.
Who impressed?
While Kasper Schmeichel pulled off an important save after just three minutes to deny Ross Barkley, Danny Simpson and Shinji Okazaki deserve a mention.
Not for their performance against the Blues, but for their service to Leicester City Football Club since their arrivals in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
They will forever be remembered by the Blue Army for their incredible roles in the Club’s Premier League triumph, and were thanked for their efforts after the full-time whistle.
Where do we stand?
Leicester City end the 2018/19 Premier League season in ninth position, only two points behind eighth-placed Everton. It is their joint-third highest Premier League finish following 1999/00 (eighth) and 2015/16 (first).