It is simple to say Leicester are overachieving this season. Led by the charismatic Claudio Ranieri, the former Chelsea manager has successfully turned a struggling Leicester team into a deadly pressing side which loves to play with a high tempo and is ready to counter attack at an alarming speed.
Their consistency, team spirit and ability to adapt to different teams could yield a rare title win for a side outside the Premier League’s top four, something that has not happened since Blackburn’s remarkable league win in 1995. Their title credentials have been questioned and answered and their league form shows no signs of declining, leading onto the next debate: Can Leicester City continue to compete to such beyond this season?
Early signs suggest that Leicester’s form can spill over into next season on considering their team spirit, adapting to different sides’ tactics and teams failing to handle their fast-paced brand of football. The work rate, talent and character of their squad show their league-topping performances can continue into next season and their individual star performances will not fade away.
However, the changing management of the ‘elite clubs’ will be drastically different next season; Pep Guardiola will be in charge of Manchester City, Chelsea will have a new manager and Manchester United possibly will too. All with different styles of play, willingness to win the title and perhaps more difficult to beat, Leicester will seem even more like a bit-part actor within an ensemble film cast.
Their achievements this season have been largely down to their consistency while Manchester City and Arsenal struggled to find title-winning form and Chelsea self-imploded, making next season a real test of their credentials and if they can stand tall among the elite and not get bullied.
The problem with overachieving is the attention you start to receive. Not the sort of attention that celebrates the club’s transfer policy, coaching or playing style but clubs looking at key players and trying to tempt such stars away.
Southampton are an obvious example. After finishing eighth in 2013/14, their squad (and manager) was picked apart by Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham. They responded perfectly by appointing Ronald Koeman and replaced outgoing stars with Graziano Pelle, Fraser Forster and Toby Alderweireld. The next season, they finished seventh and qualified for Europe.
Such a scenario could feasibly occur this summer at the King Power but Leicester must either stand firm and prevent the likes of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kanté from leaving for £20-30M or, if they fail to, replace them accordingly. A transfer window where they maintain their exciting squad and add players that suit their style would be a perfect springboard for the upcoming season.
Backed by billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, they will invest further and the owner will assist in maintaining their newfound expectations and remain a competitive force. Their recent history of purchasing players such as Christian Fuchs, Robert Huth, Shinji Okazaki and Demarai Gray suggests that the club will invest again on key players but importantly sign the right players at the right price. When you consider their financial backing, player recruitment and ability to attract international players, their future can only be promising and successful.
A massive hurdle for Ranieri’s side is European football, something that could prove the worth of his side and how competitive the team can be internationally. An extra six games before Christmas, altered fixture lists and a reputation to maintain on paper is challenging; especially for a squad that features players with little Champions League or Europa League experience.
History is not too favourable towards clubs qualifying for the Champions League on the back of title-winning or overachieving campaigns; Blackburn finished bottom of their group, Liverpool stumbled in last season’s group stage before dropping into the Europa League and Manchester City (at first) struggled to translate domestic form into Europe. Leicester must improve their squad depth and quality, keep fringe players satisfied and handle players’ fitness while maintaining their league form.
In the coming weeks they will take advantage of Arsenal and Manchester City’s Champions League fixtures but the Foxes will find it difficult to compete in the competition next season, a factor that would derail their attempt to copy this season’s success.
All factors considered, Leicester have the potential to sustain their performances next season but it hinges on multiple factor. They will struggle against clubs with new managers, bigger budgets and a vast array of stars and find European football a troubling hurdle. Needless to say, this does not mean that they will flop next season but rather another league title challenge is unlikely.
