Defending Premier League champions Leicester City haven’t had the best of the starts in the league. Currently placed 12th, the Foxes have managed to bag just seven points from six games which isn’t exactly the way they would have wanted to kick start their title defence. The Champions League, however, has been a completely different story. Claudio Ranieri’s men have made the European outings look quite easy as they are the current toppers of Group G with two wins in as many games.
In the process of their hot-and-cold start to the campaign, one thing that they are definitely relishing at the moment is the signing of Islam Slimani who has proved to be an astute incoming for the side. Ranieri’s club-record signing on the Deadline Day has scored 4 goals from his 6 appearances in his new colours but this goal scoring knack isn’t something that is unfamiliar to the ones who have kept a close eye on the Algerian international, is it?
The Foxes made a shrewd deal by persuading Slimani for a move to the King Power Stadium. 31 goals for Sporting Lisbon last season, he has a finesse of being supremely dominating in the air and possesses a tremendous eye for goals which he has been evident with his performances so far. The 28-year-old has been aggressive in his approach, has showed impeccable positional awareness and has the required pace for a striker to thrive in the hostility of the Premier League.
The latest aid of the Dragon Slayer, as he was nicknamed during his time at Sporting Lisbon, was when he put forth a superb header against Porto to put his new employers in a very commanding position in the group stages of the Champions League. The buildup of the goal does tell us how the likes of Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez, Marc Albrighton and Islam Slimani have built a close rapport among themselves, as is the case generally when a proven star walks in the dressing room, gels into the new system and lightens up the camaraderie on the pitch. Slimani has done his part to be eulogized of and hasn’t found it troublesome to hit the ground running in the Premier League.
There is something special about this Leicester City side as well. Right from the pace of Jamie Vardy who can stretch any defence in the world to Kasper Schmeichel’s heroics with the gloves, a shiver moves down the spine when the side clicks. Islam Slimani only betters the composure of the brigade.
Despite the fact that their otherwise resolute defence has looked vulnerable at times in the league, the special atmosphere under the floodlights of the King Power Stadium didn’t see any loophole in Foxes’ defence whatsoever as they soaked everything that was thrown at them.
Slimani has, so far, shown the right attitude and has been very professional in his approach.
A quality asset like him can boost the team psychologically and urge the team to improvise themselves to ensure a strong title defence. Whenever the former Sporting Lisbon striker has featured, Leicester City have resembled a much stronger side, though the continuance of the same from the newly found fox for the foxes is the point that holds paramount importance.
