Enzo Maresca has lost some old friends following his departure from Leicester, but that hardly matters as the Italian is busy making new ones at Chelsea, who consolidated their grip on third place after romping to victory in a muted King Power Stadium thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez.

The final score felt deceptive. There was a late consolation for Leicester when Jordan Ayew came off the bench to score from the spot after Roméo Lavia fouled Bobby De Cordova-Reid deep in stoppage time, but Chelsea did not need to extend.

Maresca, a perfectionist who will nevertheless be annoyed at not leaving with a rare clean sheet, could be thinking about a structured, orderly performance against his previous club, who appear to be lacking in ideas and direction under Steve Cooper.

It was strange that Maresca’s return did not get off to a flying start at Leicester, who didn’t seem particularly interested in showing they have moved on from their former manager after seeing him jump ship after last season’s promotion. The football was as dull as the atmosphere in the early stages and Chelsea soon developed a controlled rhythm, with their midfield dominance and spirited passing coupled with a sense that trouble was brewing every time they took the game the flanks changed.

A flurry of half-chances followed, sending Leicester into a series of panicky moves. The pressure was relentless – Chelsea had 82% possession after half an hour – and a goal seemed only a matter of time. Noni Madueke was a vibrant threat on the right flank and João Félix, making his first start in the league since joining from Atlético Madrid, was determined to impress after coming on for the injured Pedro Neto.

However, after a sustained period of careful searching, it was nothing more complicated than a long punt that gave Chelsea an opener that owed much to Jackson’s ability to unnerve troublesome centre-backs with his strength, speed and tenacity.

Enter Wout Faes, completely unaware of the Senegalese forward’s willingness to turn every lost cause into a goal scoring opportunity. The Belgian was soon scrambling around on the turf after four chances to clear his lines had passed, and when the ball went loose there was room for Fernández to find Jackson, who sent a beautiful right-footed shot over Mads Hermansen and into the lat wiped. far corner.

Jackson’s seventh goal of the season was no more than Chelsea deserved. Fernández, making his first league start in more than a month, picked up his fifth assist in three games and proved elusive in an advanced role. Leicester struggled to keep up with the runners and only a tight offside against Marc Cucurella, who had been freed by a beautiful ball from Cole Palmer, prevented Madueke from doubling the lead.

The only frustration for Maresca was that his team failed to get clear before the break. Leicester’s injury problems had worsened when Harry Winks made way for Oliver Skipp at 0-0, but they got moving after Wilfried Ndidi and Boubakary Soumaré saw yellow for some rough tackles.

The mood changed. Kasey McAteer pushed a shot just wide after cutting in from the right and Leicester should have equalized when Jamie Vardy sent Victor Kristiansen with an overlapping run past Wesley Fofana on the left. Chelsea, who had to adapt at right-back after losing Malo Gusto and Reece James to injury, were relieved to see Ndidi connect from Kristiansen’s cross.

But it was an isolated moment of danger. Chelsea regained their grip at the start of the second half, with Félix releasing Jackson. Hermansen saved the striker’s bending shot and Leicester survived when Madueke accidentally blocked Palmer’s follow-up.

Finally the second goal came. Leicester offered nothing as an attacking force, with Vardy unable to stretch Levi Colwill and Benoît Badiashile, and the match was over with 15 minutes to go. Cucurella delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area, Jackson saw a header saved by Hermansen after bullying Caleb Okoli and Fernández hammered home Chelsea’s supremacy by nodding the rebound into the empty net.

Leicester, just above the bottom three, certainly refused to give in. Stephy Mavididi had a penalty waved away and a penalty was eventually awarded when Lavia, who had just come on, tripped substitute De Cordova-Reid. However, Maresca would not be denied his triumphant return.