Leicester City Faces Uphill Battle to Avoid Relegation
Leicester City has been no stranger to dramatic ups and downs in recent years. From their stunning Premier League title win in 2016 to a nail-biting escape from relegation the season before, the Foxes have seen it all. However, the current season paints a much bleaker picture for the team, with relegation looming as a very real threat.
In the 2014-15 season, Leicester City found themselves languishing at the bottom of the table for much of the campaign. It wasn’t until April that they managed to claw their way to safety with a remarkable run of seven wins in their final nine games. Fast forward to the present day, and the situation looks dire. The recent 2-0 defeat to West Ham has left them five points adrift of safety, and the prospect of another great escape seems highly unlikely.
“We are going to get up again,” declared Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy after the disappointing loss. “We are still in this fight, mathematically we are there and we keep fighting as long as we can. It must be clear that the fight was only one half today and that is not enough.”
Despite sacking Steve Cooper in November in a bid to turn their fortunes around, the change in leadership has not yielded the desired results. Van Nistelrooy has only managed to secure seven points in 14 games, a far cry from the impact the club was hoping for. The statistics paint a grim picture – the team has lost 11 of their last 12 Premier League matches, conceded three own-goals (the most in the league), and failed to score in their last four games.
On the issue of scoring, Van Nistelrooy acknowledged the team’s struggles. “If you play like this in the first half you are not going to score. We were not even close to scoring. In the second half we were much closer to score. At least you give yourself an opportunity.”
While the odds may seem stacked against them, Leicester City still has time on their side. With 11 games left in the season, there are 33 points up for grabs. However, their upcoming fixtures present a tough challenge, including matches against Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle.
Defender Wout Faes remains optimistic about their chances, emphasizing the importance of belief and taking each game as it comes. “Of course, there has to be belief. Weekend after weekend the games count down. I don’t think we have to think too much about going forward. We just have to think game by game and we have to start winning very soon because the games are counting down.”
Despite the players’ resolve, doubts linger among observers. Former Leicester midfielder Neil Lennon expressed skepticism about the team’s prospects, noting the lack of quality and belief in recent performances. “West Ham didn’t have to be anywhere near their best to win the game comfortably. There was zero quality, zero belief, and the game just seemed to pass them by.”
Former Chelsea forward Joe Cole echoed these sentiments, casting doubt on Leicester’s ability to avoid the drop. “I think they are gone. I think them and Southampton are gone. How do you get these players to show some kind of spark from now to the end of the season?”
As Leicester City braces for the final stretch of the season, the stakes are higher than ever. The team’s fate hangs in the balance, with every game becoming a must-win as they fight to avoid the dreaded drop. Only time will tell whether they can summon the spirit of past triumphs to secure their Premier League status for another season.
