Let’s rewind our clocks and take it to the month of May, for revisiting arguably the most alluring success story of the Premier League. A team that defied all odds, brought the English heavyweights to shame, went past every stumble that was put forth to them and went on to lift the league title in a manner which appeared to be too good to be true.
When Wes Morgan and Claudio Ranieri found themselves drenched in champagne and unadulterated happiness, more than anything else, it was the game of football that had won. It rekindled the notion that the romanticism in the game hadn’t evaporated yet. But every good thing does come to an end, some sooner and some a tad later. The tale of Leicester City falls in the category of the former (unfortunately).
The fall from the fairy tale like story into the clutches of awfulness, the Premier League has ensured that the Foxes’ dream run succumbs to a premature death. In no manner whatsoever have they looked like the title defenders. Placed 16th in the league table with just 13 points from 14 games, which is the worst title defence in the history of the Premier League.
Statistically speaking, they accumulated as many as 29 points at this point last season and the difference of 16 points just gives us the vindication of the herculean efforts that they endured to build their foundations on lasts season.
This season, however, Ranieri’s side have been leaky at the back, inside their shells in the middle and their attacking arsenal seems to have been out of ammunition all of a sudden. Every brick that was cemented to build a miraculous effort is collapsing, brick by brick. But is it a surprise to see the defending champions in such a miserable condition this season?
Frankly speaking, they were touted as sure-shot relegation contenders last season and the way they clinched the league title is nothing short of a dream-like journey. But they are back to where they belong as normalcy is getting restored. Losing N’Golo Kanté to Chelsea rattled the balance in the side and it complemented the failure of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez to spice up the proceedings up front, which resulted in the alarm bells to have started ringing.
The latest 2-1 loss to Sunderland gave us the evidence that the Foxes are nowhere near to repeating the tantalisingly outstanding magic they pulled out of their hat last season. Failure to get the most out of their marquee signings hasn’t helped their cause, and teams have exposed the loopholes in their defence, which no longer has the protective screening of a certain Kanté . Ranieri is helpless and his tactics have been brutally punished, even by the managers of mediocre statures.
Speaking in a safer sense, 40 points should suffice to keep the Foxes from drowning, but even that milestone is miles away (but it’s definitely realistic). With the glamorous European outings being the journey yet to terminate, it would be intriguing to see how far they can push themselves. With the blend of talent they have at their disposal, relegation is likely to be avoided by them as this season, as far as the domestic league is concerned, is about survival and nothing else.
