5 REASONS WHY LEICESTER WILL BE WORTHY EPL CHAMPIONS

5 REASONS WHY LEICESTER WILL BE WORTHY EPL CHAMPIONS

by Moshood Akinleye

The English Premier League took a strange turn this season. The Goliaths of English Football suddenly turned dwarfs as a new title holder seems to be emerging gradually. The last time the EPL ever witnessed this sudden and perhaps ephemeral revolution was the 1994-1995 season when an unlikely Blackburn rose to clinch the title dramatically.

Chelsea’s woes began with Jose Mourinho’s self-ignited fire in the Stamford Bridge Locker room. Barely five months after winning a double of the title and the capital one cup, Chelsea found themselves lingering close to the relegation zone in December, having played 15 games and lost 9.

Manchester City started the season so well but the honeymoon didn’t last longer than their first five games, the blue half of Manchester now linger in between the EUROPA LEAGUE spot and a Champions League ticket.

The Red Devils were no stranger than expected as they still struggle under their Dutch Boss, Louis Van Gaal, whose tenor in Manchester has acquired more blames than praises. Since the 2003-2004 season, Arsene Wenger still looks very much like a Manager whose humility requires only a Champions League ticket and nothing more.

Meanwhile, Leicester City have shown Champions stuff so far, losing only 3 games in 28,winning 16, ending 9 in a stalemate, staying atop the table and enjoying the second best healthier goal difference, 20, seven less than Tottenham. The foxes have not gone below the third position this season. As much as nothing is cast in stone yet, here is a look at 5 key reasons why I think Leicester will be worthy Champions if they eventually clinch the 2015/2016 EPL title…enjoy.

1. WITHOUT A SILVER SPOON: the LEICESTERCITY team is one of the most ECONOMICAL but EFFICIENT team in the EPL:

If you check the last summer transfer business of the foxes, you will find that they do not belong to the top spenders. They didn’t have the millions to spend but you will wonder how former Chelsea Manager, Claudio Ranieri managed to put together a formidable team with the little cash available. Most memorable was the signing of French International, N’golo Kante from French side Caen.

With his English exploits so far and costing only 5.6 million pounds, you can only goof at the POSSIBILITY of the starlet not featuring in the EPL team of the season. Robert Huth joined from Stoke City for 3 million pounds and has found a marriage of convenience with Wes Morgan (Free) in the backline and doubtedly, one of the strongest defense in the EPL. Daniel Drinkwater (Free), N’golo Kante (5.6 million pounds), and Riyad Mahrez (750,000 pounds) has formed one of the most fierce and astounding midfield in the EPL assisting a myriad of goals. Shinji Okazaki (7 million pounds), Riyad Mahrez (750,000 pounds) and Jamie Vardy (1 million pounds) have been part of an attack that produced 51 goals in 28 EPL games this season, 2 more than Tottenham.

From the underlining elucidation, If Leicester eventually wins the EPL title, Ranieri should undoubtedly be awarded the EPL Manager of the Season.

2. THE CHAMPIONS GUT:

After managing to be at the top of the table by November, 2015, the many predictions was that the December and January match traffic will neutralise the foxes’ strength and return them to the average team they once were. Surprisingly, Leicester beat Swansea, Everton, Chelsea, Tottenham and Stoke City within the period while losing only one game to Liverpool on Boxing Day at Anfield. Unlike the Southampton story of 2014/2015 season where the December and January traffic sent the Saints below the Champions League spot, the foxes who struggled to escape relegation last term have made a difference and showed they’ve really got the guts.

Except if the foxes run down their guts or gets distracted by the pressure of being a champion, it is difficult to predict that they won’t be eventual Champions of the 2015/2016 EPL season.

3. THE RANIERI FACTOR:

For every successful journey on the water, ephemerally, the Captain of the ship should always take the credit. He makes or mars the journey based on his savvy and experience. Claudio Ranieri is an experienced Manager, having roam club and country football through Cagliari, Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Parma, Juventus, Roma, Inter Milan and Monaco as well as managing the Japan and Greece national teams. That cannot be bought.

If it were cooling the pressure, Ranieri knows how to do that perfectly. First, during the December and January Fixtures traffic when the foxes were at the top of the table, Ranieri said his team’s goal were to get to 40 points which will assure them of staying in the premier league. After dropping two points against West Bromwich Albion thereby sharing 2 points apiece in a 4 goal thriller, Ranieri was asked if his team was under pressure to win the Premier League. “Every other team is under pressure to win” said the Italian.

4. THE OTHER TEAMS:

When Chelsea slid down the pecking order of the likely Champions, and the blue half of Manchester emulated same, many, including the writer believed it was ultimately Arsenal’s title to lose. Unfortunately, the gunners have not shown the Champions stuff. Their inconsistency is as always and you can only expect the top 4 ritual for the Arsene Wenger side.

Apart from these teams, Tottenham is another surprise title contender. In the absence of the usual fore players, spurs have been very compact as a team and looks like the biggest threat to Leicester on the title. In my opinion, the only team that can win the 2015/2016 title apart from Leicester City is Tottenham.

5. THE FOXES’ LAST THREE FIXTURES

For me, this is the best reason for Leicester to be worthy champions if they eventually win the title. Considering the fact that Leicester are not 15 points ahead at Week 28, and their closest rivals, Tottenham are not as inconsistent as their North London neighbours and the Manchester clubs, coupled with the fact that the foxes will face the trio of Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea in their last three games, will call for an extra bravery to win the title eventually.

Preview to these last three fixtures, Manchester United are gradually rising in form and have achieved four straight wins, two of which are EPL games. With this feat, the Red Devils might be strong again for the top 4 and if other warring teams show the same commitment, Leicester will find it difficult with Manchester United as they will have a place on the log to fight for.

Everton are naturally a tough side for any top team of the premier league, coupled with their new investment just unveiled; it wouldn’t matter their position before this fixture; no team will be easy to beat especially an Everton that could be fighting for a Europa spot.

Chelsea will be foxes last game of the season. A natural Chelsea follower would want a pound of flesh for that KING POWER STADIUM 3-1embarrassment suffered by a Mourinho led Chelsea. Besides, Chelsea seems to be flying uninterrupted, making 3 points each consistently in 3 straight EPL games and with this, the chances of Chelsea pitching for one of the European spots cannot be relegated. This is reason enough why Chelsea can spoil the party for Leicester if perchance; the foxes need a maximum 3 points to clinch the title. So, if Leicester go pass these last three fixtures and still win the title, only a fool will say it is a mere luck.