GIZZA JOB
So, what exactly has Shakespeare got to do to be named as Leicester’s boss?
CRAIG SHAKESPEARE may have masterminded Leicester’s great escape, but he still has no idea if his longterm future is with the Foxes.
City’s drubbing of Watford means that Shakespeare has had 10 league games as caretakerboss. The deposed champions have taken 22 points from them.
Shakespeare said: “It is not a bad return, but all the credit has to go to the players.
“The remit was to take the job until the end of the season and we will then sit down and discuss it.
“I’ve not been told anything else so that’s what we will do.”
Chief Executive Susan Whelan has been in private talks with the club’s Thai owners, but, so far, they have made no move to seal Shakespeare’s long-term future at the King Power stadium.
Shakespeare added: “When I took over, the most important thing was to be competitive, climb the table and never set a points target.
“Now mathematically we are safe. We have to be pleased with what we have achieved.”
CRAIG SHAKESPEARE is in high-five heaven, thanks to Leicester’s band of attacking brothers.
It is not just Riyad Mahrez who has rediscovered his mojo since Shakespeare became interim boss.
Fellow winger Marc Albrighton has more zip in his step, while midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has fully adapted to the demands of the Premier League, following his £19million January arrival.
All three were instrumental in the win that guarantees the Foxes’ elite status.
Shakespeare’s team have won all five of their matches at the King Power and were serenaded off the pitch to the accompaniment of loud applause.
Next on the agenda is Shakespeare’s contract situation.
He said: “I have a contract until the end of the season and we will sit down then.
“I have an assistant manager’s contract and we have to be professional.”
As for Watford, they had their moments – usually spoiled by Kasper Schmeichel.
The Hornets have never come back to win a match in the Premier League after trailing by a goal at half-time.
That statistic was on display again, thanks to Ndidi’s opener, which came from a Danny Drinkwater cross into the box and the failure of Etienne Capoue to clear. The visitors made a decent fist of it in the first half, but ran out of steam in the second. Instead, it was all Leicester, especially Mahrez, who made history by becoming the first Algerian to play 100 Premier League games.
His goal midway through the second half was a peach, too.
Adrian Mariappa had the chance to intercept the ball, but hesitated and the winger did not need a second invitation as he danced his way through defenders before beating Heurelho Gomes. It had been coming for quite a while. Mahrez had already seen one effort deflected, while Christian Fuchs fired a free-kick just over and Shinji Okazaki also went close.
Mahrez went off to a standing ovation, with Watford were well beaten by then.
Shakespeare revealed: “I’ve had conversations with Riyad . He is very selfcritical, wants to score more goals, thinks he should. He turned that talk into action.”
In injury-time, Vardy, a picture of selfless running, squared the ball to Albrighton, whose finish was top-class.
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri said: “The result is not nice, but it doesn’t reflect how the game went.
“We committed two individual mistakes and the third was a counter-attack.”