Here’s why, for the first time, I fear my Foxes could be doomed
CLAUDIO RANIERI deserves a statue in Leicester city centre for bringing the title to the King Power – whatever happens to them this season.
Up until last weekend’s comprehensive home defeat by Manchester United, I did not think they could possibly go from champions to relegation, but now I’m not so sure.
There are 10 acid tests of a team – none of them down to pure ability – where Leicester ticked all the boxes as they rallied under Nigel Pearson to avoid the drop in 2015 and became Ranieri’s 5,000-1 title miracle workers last year.
These aspects require no talent – but if you look at recent performances in the Premier League, where Leicester have yet to score a goal in 2017, how many boxes do they tick now? Work ethic?
According to the stats, they are not running as far in matches as they did in 2015-16 – down from 110.8km to 108.7km as a team.
Leicester kept 15 clean sheets on their way to the title, but this season they have managed only five. Coachable?
Ranieri has returned to his ‘Tinkerman’ personality. After making 33 changes in 38 games last season, the lowest in the division, he has made more than 50 this time.
And the players have reportedly been confused by him adjusting tactics just a couple of hours before kick-off. Body language?
What has happened to Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez? They were unstoppable at times last season, and enjoyed a neartelepathic understanding.
But Mahrez has contributed only three goals – all penalties – and two assists, while Vardy has only five goals compared with 18 at the same stage of the previous campaign. Energy?
Leicester have missed N’Golo Kante. As a defensive screen, he gave Wes Morgan and Robert Huth more protection than a bodyguard. Now they have gone back to looking like... well, Morgan and Huth. And he made Danny Drinkwater look like an international midfielder.
It is no coincidence that, at Chelsea, David Luiz has suddenly morphed back into a world-class centre-half with Kante winning tackles in front of him and Nemanja Matic has found his mojo again. Attitude?
I fear Leicester’s has changed – not a deliberate withdrawal of labour, but when you are deservedly rewarded with huge new contracts for winning the title, it is human nature to be in the comfort zone off the pitch. Team spirit?
I’m not convinced the dressing room is as tight as it was 12 months ago, or during that fantastic run to safety under Pearson. Ranieri’s recruitment has not been a success, and it has led to resentment. Leonardo Ulloa was not a regular starter last season, but he contributed vital goals on the road. He has seen new players come in, probably on a lot more money than him, and yet when they have not produced on the pitch, he still can’t get a game.
That doesn’t excuse him saying he was never going to play for Leicester again, but Ulloa’s unhappiness hints at an imbalance in the dressing room which was not evident last year. Diet?
Ranieri was happy to serve pizza with all the toppings when they kept clean sheets last season, but the players grumbled when he took their favourite chicken burgers off the post-match menu.
It might sound trivial, but these things can be symbolic and assume an importance beyond their true meaning, like David Moyes banning chips from Manchester United’s side dishes three years ago.
It’s not too late for Leicester to pull out of their tailspin. The majority of this team were in a tight corner two years ago and managed to get out of it, but Ranieri needs to go through his cookbook and find his predecessor’s recipe for survival. Well-prepared?
Last year, they looked well-drilled for every game. They looked like a side who had spent extra hours on the training ground and as if they could execute Ranieri’s 4-4-2 game plan in their sleep.
I can’t believe that losing one player, Kante, has made all the difference. But if Leicester lose at Swansea tomorrow, they will be in massive trouble.
And will Ranieri rest players for the Champions League tie against Sevilla when they have daunting games against Liverpool and Arsenal between the first and second legs?
For the first time – and as a former player whose years at the club were among the happiest of my career – I am worried Leicester could go down. I spent 12 years in the Premier League, captained four different clubs and won the League Cup once.
Would I have swapped that experience for two years in the top flight, winning the title and then being relegated, followed by 10 years in the Championship? You bet I would! Win the title, and you are made for life.
But that mindset, in itself, may be the biggest problem for Leicester as they try to stop the tide coming in.