Liverpool on the hunt for Foxes
LEICESTER FACE REAL PROSPECT OF RELEGATION Senior players the catalyst in sacking of manager Ranieri.
Leicester’s underachieving stars will be in the spotlight when the crisis-torn champions start life without Claudio Ranieri in a crucial clash against Liverpool tonight.
Ranieri was ruthlessly sacked on Thursday amid reports several of the team’s senior players had lost faith in the Italian.
The decision to axe Ranieri only nine months after he masterminded their incredible Premier League title triumph was widely condemned.
But Ranieri’s tactical tinkering and confusing team selections were said to have angered the likes of Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel to such an extent that they warned the club’s owners Leicester would be relegated if he stayed.
If those rumours genuinely show the mood in the Leicester change-room, then it reflects badly on players who have been too quick to blame Ranieri for their own failings.
Ranieri was clearly shellshocked by his dismissal, describing it as the day “his dream died”.
For Leicester’s spluttering stars, if they have blood on their hands, Ranieri’s exit means there will be nowhere to hide when Liverpool arrive at the King Power Stadium.
In contrast to last season, when Vardy set the tone with his prolific finishing and tireless work rate, the England international has been remarkably subdued for most of this term.
Vardy isn’t the only one – Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, voted Player-of-the-Year last season, has been nowhere near as effective.
Leicester have lost their last five league matches without scoring a goal, crashed out of the FA Cup against third-tier Millwall – who played almost half the match with 10 men – and suffered a 2-1 Champions League last-16 first-leg defeat against Sevilla in Ranieri’s final match.
By the time they kick off tonight, Leicester could be in the relegation zone depending on other results and a defeat against Liverpool would push them a step closer to becoming the first reigning English champions to be relegated since Manchester City in 1938.
Leicester caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare knows time is running out to beat the drop.
Shakespeare, who denied claims he had fallen out with Ranieri, believes he is the man for the job and has signalled his desire to take the manager’s role on a permanent basis.
However, with far more experienced candidates like Roberto Mancini, Guus Hiddink and Roy Hodgson reportedly being considered, Shakespeare may have to settle for somehow inspiring his players to upset Liverpool.
“You know what, we deserved to win the league last year. We won it by 10 points,” he said.
“From a football point of view I have to tell you that the players are very professional.
“They are very hurt and very frustrated. I’ve not had one problem with them on the training field. They are a joy to work with at all times.” – AFP