Foxes find fairytale’s truly over
THE magnitude of Leicester City’s title-winning achievement seven months ago has struck home – and how!
It was apparent from the first match of the season – away at promoted Hull City – the hunters were now being hunted.
And with the added burden of expectation, a string of new players and the void left by Chelsea-bound N’Golo Kante – it was never going to be easy for Claudio Ranieri & Co.
Indeed, defeat a couple of weeks ago at Sunderland saw the prospect raised of whether the Foxes could be the first team since Manchester City in 1938 to be relegated after lifting the top prize.
Even now, Leicester lie just three points above the relegation zone.
Having said that, Ranieri’s request for his history-makers to stay put and fulfil their Champions League dream has been taken on board.
News of a tie in the last 16 against Sevilla was greeted as winnable by the east Midlands club, perhaps forgetting that the La Liga side has twice lifted the Europa League, last time out defeating Liverpool, just seven months ago.
But Leicester have eight Premier League fixtures before then – and would do well to concentrate upon those.
The extra burden has undoubtedly taken its toll on players who are unaccustomed to the Champions League spotlight being shone down upon them.
With additional matches to play, a large portion of Ranieri’s squad has undoubtedly struggled to match the intensity of last season.
New regulations on grabbing at set-pieces unsettled twin peaks Robert Huth and Wes Morgan; Keeper Kasper Schmeichel was missing with a hand injury and Danny Drinkwater’s form has suffered because of Kante’s exit.
Riyad Mahrez has been unable to chip in with as many assists, Jamie Vardy unable to match his record-breaking run.
Leicester have sufficient quality to drag themselves clear of immediate danger.
But, once the Champions League campaign draws to a close, those players who created such a wonderful tale for the game may look elsewhere.
There are several – such as Drinkwater, Schmeichel, Mahrez and Vardy – who could now make the step up to elite level.
The challenge for those Foxes is first to safeguard the club’s Premier League future.