There was always a sense of inevitability around the final day defeat for Leicester City to Manchester United, a defeat that ultimately cost them their Champions League place for next season. Their results after the recommencement of football proceedings were disastrous. Just two wins in the final nine games isn’t good enough to cement a top-four position. This coincided with an upturn in United’s fortunes, who were unbeaten in their last 14 games. It’s a shame for everyone connected with Leicester, considering how good they were prior to the pandemic. The question is, can they pick themselves up and go again next season?
What Next for Leicester City?
Cost of Injuries and Suspension
Football can be a cruel game. There comes a time during a campaign where a team needs a bit of luck on their side. Yes, Leicester had a dip in performances in the final weeks, but if they hadn’t been so unfortunate with injuries and suspensions, perhaps it could have been different.
Their final day opponents had clearly been low on energy in the penultimate games. The emphatic 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final was clear evidence of this. Imagine Leicester were not without Ricardo Pereira, Ben Chilwell, Christian Fuchs, Çağlar Söyüncü (all defenders) and key playmaker James Maddison? Any team would struggle with those kind of absentees, and it is probable that they would have given United an even tougher final game had these players been on the pitch. Many Leicester fans will be left to rue this thought today.
Positives
Though, Leicester also do have many, many positives to take away. Despite an anti-climatic end to the season, they have still secured their second-highest top-flight finish in over 50 years. Qualification for the Europa League is definitely something they would have taken at the start of the season. Manager Brendan Rodgers, instrumental in Leicester’s attacking approach this season, is going nowhere. After the game, he spoke about his “excitement” in taking his players into Europe and improving the squad with more attacking players. This to an already impressive collection which includes Youri Tielemans, Jamie Vardy and Maddison.
Keeping Hold of Chilwell
It is great news for Leicester fans that Maddison is set to sign a new contract with the club, with rumours circulating around his future in recent months. Another positive is the form of Vardy. At 33, he is the oldest player to win the Golden Boot in Premier League history and continues to defy the ageing process by retaining his electrifying pace. Leicester now need to make sure they keep hold of their best players, Ben Chilwell in particular. Chelsea, amongst others, are interested in the England left-back and it will be a big blow if he goes.
Optimistic Future
So, Leicester fans can look to the future with optimism. However, with so many clubs battling for Champions League places, and continuing to invest to ensure they attain them, it does feel like Leicester have missed a golden opportunity. But, they can not be ruled out. This is a club who defied all logic in winning the title in 2016 and continue to do so. Maybe it’s about time they were given the respect they deserve. Maybe we should now look at Leicester City as one of the country’s best teams, and worthy challengers to the so-called big clubs.
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