Tough defence key for Leicester
SCHMEICHEL: IT’S A PLEASURE TO PLAY BEHIND THEM
Harry Kane vows to chase the Foxes right to the end.
Kasper Schmeichel says Leicester’s rock-solid defence is the secret to the shock leaders’ remarkable charge towards a fairytale Premier League title.
Claudio Ranieri’s side are within touching distance of becoming the most unexpected champions in English football history as they head to struggling Sunderland on Sunday and Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel has no doubts he and the four men immediately in front of him will lay the foundation for another priceless victory.
Chelsea captain John Terry this week named seven Leicester players in his vote for the PFA’s team of the year and three of those nominations were for Schmeichel and the club’s centrebacks Wes Morgan and Robert Huth.
That trio, combined with fullbacks Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs, have proved an impenetrable obstacle to opposing forwards as the pressure of the title race has mounted, with Leicester grinding out five 1-0 wins in their last six matches.
“We defend as a team, we are tough to break down. They are an absolute privilege to play behind, those boys,” Schmeichel said.
“They throw their bodies in the way of everything and give us the best opportunity to go on and win games.
“Building a good foundation with clean sheets is obviously a great start. For me they are a pleasure to play behind.”
If the Foxes win at the Stadium of Light they will open up a 10-point lead over second-placed Tottenham, who will then have to beat Manchester United at White Hart Lane later tomorrow to have any chance of remaining in the hunt.
Spurs have no margin for error after last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool, which featured an exquisite equaliser from Harry Kane but also the frustration of failing to finish off the Reds despite having most of the possession.
Kane’s 22nd league goal of the season set a new club record in the Premier League era, but the England striker would happily swap personal plaudits for a title winners’ medal and he is determined to keep hunting the Foxes right until the end.
“Any day of the week you’d rather your team win rather than have personal achievements,” Kane said.
“For me it is about the team getting as many points as possible.”
Arsenal, in third place, make the short trip across London to face West Ham knowing they must win to maintain their slender hopes of a first title since 2004.
They are 11 points behind Leicester with a game in hand.
Manchester City, clinging onto fourth place, will hope the confidence gained from their gritty 2-2 Champions League quarterfinal first leg draw at Paris St- Germain can provide the impetus to see off West Bromwich Albion at Eastlands.
Meanwhile, rock-bottom Aston Villa’s seemingly inevitable relegation will be confirmed if they fail to match or better fourth-bottom Norwich’s result at Crystal Palace.
Villa, who host Bournemouth, are 15 points adrift of safety with six games left and need an incredible combination of results to avoid a return to the second tier for the first time since 1988. –
Sunderland v Leicester City; Liverpool v Stoke City; Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United.