ANOTHER MIRACLE? FOXES ARE MADD FOR IT
HALFWAY through the season and Leicester’s latest clinical display has fans – and James Maddison – dreaming of another fantasy title.
An impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea has left Brendan Rodgers’ men riding high with 38 points.
Rewind to 2015-16 and Claudio Ranieri’s 5,000-1 outsiders had just one point more and were level on goal difference with leaders Arsenal after 19 fixtures.
The rest of the sporting world watched in awe as Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, N’golo Kante and co blazed a trail to the title with skipper Wes Morgan lifting the trophy.
But never mind 5,000-1 – now defensive stalwart Morgan is just 40-1 to do it again. Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel usually has the armband on the pitch these days, with Morgan more of a squad player.
Schmeichel and evergreen striker Vardy provide titlewinning quality and experience at both ends of the pitch.
New £30million signing Wesley Fofana (top right) has been tipped by Jamie Redknapp to bring in another future worldrecord fee for a defender, like
Harry Maguire. And the red-hot form of Maddison, with five goals in his last seven games, has compensated for Mahrez’s 2018 sale to Manchester City.
But this squad (Harvey Barnes and James Justin, both right) has just as much hope as the 2016 version. Maddison said: “We are not up there by fluke. We are up there because we work hard.
“People might talk about Manchester United, Liverpool or Tottenham, but let them. There are teams out there who can spend a lot more money than us, and bring in players from abroad and pay big wages for big players.
“But that team spirit and togetherness is here at Leicester for all to see. We will do our business in the background and, come the end of the season, hopefully it will give us a chance of being right up there.”
Boss Rodgers said: “To look and see Leicester City in and around it with the levels of
teams there makes me really happy. It is going to be a huge challenge for us to be up there, but we are happy to take on that challenge.”
Maddison was involved in Leicester’s opener against Chelsea with a clever short corner routine before making it 2-0. Chelsea join a list of scalps this term, including Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs.
Maddison now has eight goals and three assists in all competitions for Leicester. The star has benefited from a recent meeting with Rodgers and club analyst Jack Lyons.
Rodgers (left) said: “What we are saying to James is not just be a player who can play in between the lines and take the ball to feet, but be a running No.10 to go and break the line and get beyond. He can get goals because we know when he is in there he can finish.”
It has led to claims Maddison, 24, must be given a chance to add to his single England cap this year. Rodgers says he is not the only English talent pushing their claims.
He added: “James is creating goals and scoring goals. Harvey Barnes, the same, who is a really talented young English player. James Justin can play as comfortably at left or right-back.
“The young English talent is here and, if they play and perform well, they can’t do any more.”