Its a story of "NEVER GIVE UP" attitude or of The Whole is greater than the Sum of it's parts, as stated by Aristotle. Nothing could have prepared football fans for Leicester City's remarkable run in the 2015-16 English Premier League. The Foxes were 5000 to 1 to win the title on the seoooason's opening day. And yet, after more than three bewildering months in first place, leaving even their staunchest fans rubbing their eyes, The Foxes clinched the title after Tottenham Hotspur F.C. failed to beat Chelsea F.C. on may 2nd.
The Foxes were promoted to the Premier league last season. They played woefully, spending four consecutive months in last place, only to win seven of their last nine matches to escape relegation with a game to spare. in next season, bookmakers gave Leicester a smaller chance of finishing top than of Jeremy Corbyn becoming the next James bond(1000 to 1). Only four clubs have won the league title in the past 20 years, each with enormous financial clout; the top four places have been traded between the same six teams in the past 10 seasons. Nobody foresaw Leicester's rise and everybody predicted their demise as they kept on winning throughout the season ( much like Donald Trump's run for the Republican nomination).Nonetheless, hindsight offers three main reasons for the Foxes’ remarkable ascendency.
First factor is the tactical guide Leicester are toothless when building slow attacks—but ruthless on swift counter-attacks (see chart). Leicester’s staff identified that players such as Jamie Vardy , Riyad Mahrez and Danny Drinkwater —all unremarkable in 2014-15—were suited to such guerrilla tactics. They signed midfielder N’Golo Kanté to improve their countering efficiency: he has executed more interceptions and tackles than anyone else in the Premier League this season. Claudio Ranieri, Leicester’s manager, has instructed his defenders to sit deep, cede possession—only two teams have seen less of the ball—and then pounce. They simply focus on scoring rather to dominate in the field thus counter attack and side play is the weapon and zonal defense in the armour. Technically they made a best strategy and choose the best player for their blue print. This worked for the 2nd phase of the league. Luckily, every piece was placed in a right way.
A second factor is squad stability and team chemistry or players offering their support when manager asked them to. Only 18 Leicester players have started a league game (a league low) and eight have started at least 30 times (a league high). The team remained almost injury-free and rested while the bigger teams toiled in European competition.Pace, defense, dribbling, stamina are major important attribute of a player but without performance and consistency these all are of no use. Leicester city player didn't had any high competency but they performed better then those $100 million player and were consistent throughout as one. And this was the ingredient of their success.
Look, Albrighton and Kante are covering the maximum field are supportig defence. Maintaining Clear sheet is important because if you score 2 and gets concede 3 net. It's a Loss!!
In a league that is famous for anyone being able to defeat anyone else, Leicester started off by winning almost every single winnable match, performing against teams that are the same level, or worse than them. Credit goes to Claudio Ranieiri for keeping their feet on the ground throughout (He even said 'Our first aim is reaching 40 points ).Of course, Jamie Vardy's goals, Riyad Mahrez's tricks and Kante's work rate have been instrumental to their success. But they have kept things simple. Jamie ardy has also been named the Football Writers’ Player of the Year and Riyad Mahrez has won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award.
Jamie breaks the Guinness World Record with 11 goals in 11 games and becomes the first player to score 20+ goals since Gary Lineker in 1984 and Riyad Mahrez has scored 17 goals and made 11 assists in 34 league games to take Leicester to the cusp of the title.
They helped to lead Leicester City from 5000-1 underdogs to winning the Premier League this week in what has been called the “most unlikely triumph in the history of team sport".
Gary Lineker has said of his hometown team’s victory that it is "the biggest sporting shock of my lifetime. I can't think of anything that surpasses it in sporting history. It is difficult to put over in words.. It was hard to breathe. I was a season ticket holder from the age of seven. This is actually impossible.”
Alan Shearer has said "For a team like Leicester to come and take the giants on with their wealth and experience - not only take them on but to beat them - I think it's the biggest thing to happen in football.”
Leicester city’s triumph in the EPL was almost a miracle if you like but it goes to underline what can be achieved if we really want something and are willing to do what it takes to get it. Leicester players were amazing and they had an awesome manager in Ranieri but what really made the impossible possible for them was their passion and desire. They were playing with immense passion and desire that came second to none in the entire league that season and after a while they started believing they can actually do the unthinkable.
When money dominated this sport, LEICESTER CITY F.C. flipped it upside-down.
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