Fernández plays for Chelsea, while Maresca enjoys winning back at Leicester | Premier League

Enzo Maresca has lost a few old friends since leaving Leicester, but that hardly matters when the Italian is busy making new ones at Chelsea, who tightened their grip on third place after cruising to victory at a subdued King Power Stadium thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez.

The end result felt deceptive. There was a late consolation for Leicester, Jordan Ayew coming off the bench to score from the spot after Roméo Lavia had fouled Bobby De Cordova-Reid deep into stoppage time, but Chelsea had not been obliged to extend.

Maresca, a perfectionist who will nevertheless be annoyed not to have gone back with a rare clean sheet, could reflect on a structured, orderly performance against his former club, which appears to have lacked ideas and direction under Steve Cooper.

It was strange that Maresca’s return didn’t spark a jump start from Leicester, who didn’t seem particularly interested in showing they’ve moved on from their former manager after seeing him jump ship after last season’s promotion. The football was as dreary as the atmosphere in the early stages and Chelsea quickly established a controlled rhythm, their dominance in midfield absolute and their quick passing accompanied by a sense that trouble was on the cards whenever they switched play out to the flanks .

A flurry of half chances arrived, forcing Leicester into a series of frantic scrums. The pressure was relentless – Chelsea had 82% possession after half an hour – and a goal seemed a matter of time. Noni Madueke was a busy 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 in for the injured Pedro Neto.

After a prolonged period of careful probing, however, it was nothing more complicated than a long punt that brought Chelsea an opener, largely due to Jackson’s ability to unsettle troublesome centre-backs with his strength, speed and tenacity.

Enter Wout Faes, who was blissfully unaware of the Senegalese striker’s willingness to turn any lost cause into a goal-scoring opportunity. The Belgian got around the green quickly, four chances to clear his lines had come and gone, and when the ball ran loose there was space for Fernández to find Jackson, who swept a lovely right-footed shot across Mads Hermansen and into the box . farthest corner.

Jackson’s seventh goal of the season was no more than Chelsea deserved. Fernández, starting in the league for the first time in more than a month, had his fifth assist in three games and proved elusive in an advanced role. Leicester struggled to contain the runners and only a close offside call against Marc Cucurella, who had been cleared by a superb ball from Cole Palmer, stopped Madueke from doubling the lead.

The only frustration for Maresca had to be his side’s inability to get going before the break. Leicester’s injury problems had mounted when Harry Winks made way for Oliver Skipp at 0-0, but they rallied after Wilfried Ndidi and Boubakary Soumaré saw yellow for a couple of rough tackles.

The mood changed. Kasey McAteer slipped a shot wide after cutting in from the right and Leicester should have equalized when Jamie Vardy sent Victor Kristiansen’s volley past Wesley Fofana’s overlapping run on the left. Chelsea, who had been forced to adjust at right-back after losing Malo Gusto and Reece James to injury, were relieved to see Ndidi make a hash of Kristiansen’s cross.

But that was an isolated moment of danger. Chelsea regained control at the start of the second half, Félix releasing Jackson. Hermansen saved the striker’s curling shot and Leicester survived when Madueke inadvertently blocked Palmer’s follow-up.

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

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