It is not a regular occurrence for the Champions to find themselves 16 in the league table with 15 matches to go, but that’s where Leicester find themselves, with just 2 points separating them from Crystal Palace in 18.
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A year ago the Foxes enjoyed wins against Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool – a scrap book any top side would be proud of – as well as draws both at home AND away against Manchester United. “I was sacked the next day”.
After the trip to Swansea, Leicester could play Millwall away in the Cup if they defeat Steve McClaren’s Derby.
Leicester’s plight was dealt a further blow on Sunday as they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United, a result that leaves the reigning champions one point above the relegation zone. “It is time for each one of us – from the top to the bottom of this club – to be counted”, Leicester’s goalkeeper said.
If Leicester don’t figure things out soon, we might not just be talking about relegation either.
“Let’s not talk about last season”.
It was a display that did little to quell suspicions, as understood by Sportsmail, that the players are close to losing faith with Ranieri’s approach. The players are also culpable and it is staggering just how unrecognisable so many of them are from last season, with the loss of form running right through the team.
“Last season was a freak, so this is what you’d expect from Leicester: fighting relegation”, said former Liverpool defender turned Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher. “It has been awful, embarrassing”.
Firing Claudio Ranieri seems ridiculous.
‘The entire Club will remain united behind its manager and behind its players, collectively and firmly focused on the challenges ahead.
Added to that was the “growing concern” from the dressing room; “no suggestion that his job was under immediate threat” and then praise for the job he had done and it might nearly have felt as though Ranieri was back at Chelsea, from where he was sacked in 2004. Neither offered a firm backing – preferring to instead insist the team was ready to fight together – and while they were talking amid high-adrenaline shortly after the final whistle continued responses of that kind will only see speculation grow. “This is a hard time, but I am used to the fight and so are my players. It is hard. I am sure they are going to get enough points to get stability”.
“It is a game and a football match and you want to win, so maybe it is what we need to kick us on and give the fans a lift for Sunday”. However, this season they have failed to maintain shape of the defence and got exploited on most of the occasions. We know we’re a good team and it just hasn’t worked for us yet.
“Champions League is new for them”. We knew it wasn’t going to be like last season but it is tougher than we thought.
“It is important now to get the confidence”, he said.
A similar upturn in form right about now would do them very nicely indeed.
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