Leicester City embark on a new season with a whole set of judgmental and some admiring eyes upon them. The Foxes scripted history last season as they won the league with 0.1% people expecting that to happen. The ones who put their bets on Leicester are probably camping in some exotic nature park in South Africa…
Anyways, Leicester in truth have lots on their plate as the season opener comes ever so close. They will be determined to show the world they are not a one-season wonder. They have to hit back at critics who have termed their enviable achievement as a flash in the pan. Ranieri failed to retain their midfield powerhouse N’Golo Kante who bunked Champions League football for the glamour of the Bridge. But Leicester will be more or less happy with the window if they can prevent Mahrez from leaving. They have signed Ahmed Musa in a club record deal and also Nampalys Mendy in midfield. Luis Hernandez has joined in defence and it is expected they won’t be the last to come in through the door.
Though no game can be branded as easy in the league, the Foxes begin their title defence away against manager-less Hull City who are in a mess, to be honest. They haven’t signed a single player and caretaker manager Mike Phelan might potentially have 13 senior players to choose his first eleven from.
TEAM NEWS AND PREDICTED LINE-UP
Claudio Ranieri has got a fully fit squad to choose from but Robert Huth will be an absentee as he completes his 3-match ban.
Leicester are expected to continue with their 4-4-1-1 formation which brought them so much success last season.
DEFENCE
Schmeichel will keep his position between the sticks while Morgan will most likely team up with new signing Hernandez at centre-back. Marcin Wasilewski provides another option for the manager. Simpson and Fuchs will line up in the full-back positions and look to continue their impressive form of last season.
MIDFIELD
Nampalys Mendy will hope to get a debut and he will most likely be partnered by Danny Drinkwater in central midfield. Andy King is an option if the manager decides against giving him his debut just yet. Riyadh Mahrez will start on the right and look to regain his spark after having gone off the boil in the last stages of pre-season. Marc Albrighton will line-up on the left.
ATTACK
Jamie Vardy will lead the line and look to get off to a quick start with either Okazaki or Musa behind him.
