Leicester City’s dismissal of manager Claudio Ranieri Thursday evening has brought about yet another challenge for the Foxes amidst an abysmal campaign this season. The club are only a point above the relegation places and lost the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match 2-1 at Sevilla on Wednesday.
Leicester City & Claudio Ranieri: The Right Decision at the Wrong Time
It is a frustrating end for the Italian, who helped guide Leicester to an improbable Premier League title less than a year ago. The challenges that were presented to the club in the current term were always going to be difficult, and unfortunately Ranieri was not able to produce the same magic.
The decision was made, and it was an understandable one. Leicester have 13 Premier League matches left to ensure that they stay in the top flight next season. The club have lost their last five consecutive league matches, not scoring a single goal in any of the encounters.
Jamie Vardy’s goal in the 73rd minute against Sevilla on Wednesday may have kept Champions League hope alive for the second leg at the King Power Stadium, but the strike was a beam of light in an otherwise dark performance. The Foxes were dominated in nearly every aspect by the home side.
However, considering what was accomplished last season, Claudio Ranieri deserved more.
Key players
Leicester’s title-winning campaign last season featured inspired play from several key players. N’Golo Kante’s transfer to Chelsea was certainly a tremendous loss, as the defensive midfielder has helped to bring the Blues to the top of the league.
PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez has not been able to achieve the same success as the previous campaign, while Jamie Vardy has struggled to produce the types of mesmerising goals he was capable of in 2015-16.
Along with heroic performances from several others within the squad and the added fixtures from their first-ever UEFA Champions League appearance, Ranieri was not in an easy position.
The transfer market
The loss of a player like Kante is hard to replace, but the club and Ranieri were not able to do enough together in the summer and January transfer periods.
Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa have not had the type of influence in the attack that was hoped for, while midfielder Nampalys Mendy was not able to duplicate the astounding work rate of Kante in the middle.
Leicester’s ability to absorb pressure and strike on the counter-attack propelled the Foxes to a Premier League title. But Rainieri was not able to get the same results from his new set of players.
Motivation and urgency
Part of what made Ranieri the perfect manager for Leicester last season ended up being a weakness for him now, and may have ultimately brought about the club’s decision.
His talk of focusing on “40 points” last year came about again after the FA Community Shield loss to Manchester United in August, and is certainly not what the club wanted to hear. Ranieri’s calm demeanor was crucial in helping to keep the squad focused on the league title with so much attention around them, while this season’s relegation battle may require much more urgency.
Claudio Ranieri achieved the impossible with Leicester City, but was not able to evolve and progress along with the club. The side now face an uncertain future, and it is one that Claudio Ranieri should have been able to see out until at least the summer.
He had earned that much.
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