What is Leicester City's 'Secret' Ingredient?
- Mar 16, 2016
- 4 min read
Football has a canny habit of coughing out an underdog and handing them the chance to handwrite their name in the history of the English game. Leicester City have hardly been able to avoid the headlines this season, with their sparkling display of fast attacking football and a growing belief that they can indeed do the impossible. Full Time discusses the ingredients in their winning formula that has seen them go five points ahead in the race for Premier League glory this season with just eight games left to play.
The summer of 2015 saw numerous managerial appointments in the Premier League, and Claudio Ranieri was arguably the most dubious. The sacking of manager Nigel Pearson, who saved Leicester the previous year when they anchored Burnley and Aston Villa at the root of the league, was still a bitter aftertaste and many expected Leicester to have been a one-season wonder. Despite the adversity, Ranieri has forged a winning spirit and determination that appears to carry his team through ninety minutes of blood, sweat and tears week in week out. His famed nickname 'The Tinkerman' has faltered slightly since his Chelsea days as starting eleven has seldom altered this season baring injuries and suspensions. Ranieri's tactic of utilising Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy's blistering pace through the flanks, coupled with good ballplayers in Mark Albrighton, Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kante across the midfield, has been an utter masterstroke. Likewise, the defensive solidity now in place in the heart of the Leicester backline has been something of a shock, but yet has allowed Leicester to stay resilient and in turn play their elegant and speedy build up play in order to create chance after chance for the front men.
Like every successful side, a frequent and reliable goalscorer is an essential. In Jamie Vardy, Leicester have a player who's rise could be described as metioric in the least. Just four years ago, Vardy had been plying his trade with Fleetwood Town in the Conference before a one million pound move to City hoisted him into the Championship. After gaining promotion, Vardy's first season in the Premier League was less than convincing, but Raniero has had faith in a player who has reaped the rewards of a new manager, new system and a new freedom to play his football. In just thirty games in the league this season, Vardy has managed to notch 19 goals and in the meantime broke Ruud Van Nistelrooy's record of consecutive games with a goal against Manchester United in November 2015. His form has led him to be included in numerous England squads for Roy Hodgson, and his place in the squad for the European Championship's in France this coming summer is all but signed, sealed and delivered. A new £80,000 3 year contract signed in February suggests Vardy is at Leicester for the long haul despite speculated interest from Chelsea and Barcelona amongst others.
Vardy's partner in crime, Riyad Mahrez has proven to be an absolute bargain. Purchased for a mere £550,000 from French outfit Le Havre, Mahrez has been in scintilating form with an impressive 16 goals and 11 assists this campaign. The tricky Algerian has been described as a 'match winner' by his captain Wes Morgan and will be one of many Leicester players to surely make the PFA Team of the Year at the end of the season. Mahrez has wowed fans with his silky footwork, an eye for a pass and a wand of a left foot that has lifted Leicester to the top of the Premier League with ease. A knack of scoring when it's most vital and an impressive dismantling of fellow title-chasers Manchester City in early February may have slapped an even higher price tag on his head amid interest from Barcelona. Without him in the side, City look considerably weaker and fans will hope his loyalty will outweigh the weighty wage cheque that will undoubtedly be waved under his nose come the summer transfer window.
This week Sir Alex Ferguson stated that N'Golo Kante has been the signing of the season for Leicester City at just 4 million pounds and few could argue with the mercurial scotsman. Kante has been a relevation in the Leicester midfield, marshalling his team with power and guile, and breaking up the opposition's attacking intent and thus allowing them to push forward on the break. A precision in his tackling has set him apart from most this campaign, with an ability to beat a player and pick a pass, Kante has become invaluable for Ranieri and his chosen system. Like his counterpart Mahrez, Kante may see his future away from the King Power despite the promise of Champions League football, and you'd hedge your bets that a majority of teams would take him with open arms no matter the fee.
The ingredient that has gone quietly about its business in this Leicester outfit is their winning mentality. Gradually, as their progress has developed, City have managed to club together a spirit that appears to be unbreakable, with a willingness to fight and battle to the last and a new found belief and confidence in their individual and collective abilities. Their main contestants, Arsenal and Manchester City, for instance have appeared disjointed and fractious throughout the season, while Leicester have remained a humble yet tightly knit group of players capable of overturning opponents with greater individual quality than themselves. City have shown that spirit and determination is more valuable and beneficial than a star name, or a 'special' one in charge of the helm.
If Leicester manage to see out the season and lift the trophy, it would prove to be the greatest footballing feat since Brian Clough took a Nottingham Forest side into the top division and won the league the next year. Full Time wishes them the best of luck, and if you're a City fan you may not quite want this incredible, unpredictable and exciting season to come to an end. Only time will tell if Leicester can and will remain at the higher echelons of England's top football devision.
Comments