Every encounter is a reenactment of history. This phrase might be particularly profound for Leicester City, the team that suffered a disastrous relegation to the Championship last summer. Although the battle of the top five leagues is not entirely over, the ever-competitive Championship has already witnessed the return of old friends.
On the eve of the Championship season finale, the 46th round of games will determine the final success or failure. Leeds United’s loss unexpectedly worked in Leicester City’s favor, securing their opportunity to clinch the title even before their own game had begun. However, that didn’t stop Leicester City from achieving a resounding three-goal victory in their match, perfectly showcasing their ambition to surge through to promotion.
With a glorious history of winning the English second-tier championship eight times, Leicester City has oscillated between the Premier League and Championship like an elevator. Eight years ago, they fought tenaciously and, with the attitude of a “commoner” team, they snatched the Premier League trophy amidst the chaotic competition.
In the purgatory of the Championship, Leicester City seemed to advance with ease. But it all seemed predestined. For the “Foxes,” would they suffer the calamity of point deductions, or could they weave into an episode of miracle?
The watchman appreciates Leicester City’s strong comeback. Last season, Leicester City performed abnormally, ranking third from the bottom in the Premier League with a squad fit for European competition. Unlike the luxurious teams of earlier years that were relegated with regret, almost no one predicted Leicester City’s overwhelming success in the Championship.
Looking back at history, in the 2003-04 season when Leicester City was last relegated to the Championship, it took them a full ten years, after countless struggles, to shine again. Moreover, they had even plummeted to the depths of League One. Before them, traditional teams like Sunderland, Birmingham, and West Bromwich Albion had also lost their former glory after relegation.
Last summer, Leicester City was like a bustling player supermarket, signaling a great start. Players such as Tielemans, Ayoze Pérez, Evans, and Soyuncu chose to leave the team after their contracts expired; while players like Maddison, Barnes, and Castagne were forced to be put on sale due to the immense wage pressure. Losing these talents was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Leicester City.
After parting ways with interim manager Dean Smith, the “Foxes” approached Potter and Frank, but they were not willing to step down to the Championship. With nowhere to turn, Leicester City decided to follow Arsenal’s example and miraculously set their sights on Guardiola’s assistant—Enzo Maresca. Although Enzo’s resume was not as dazzling as Arteta’s, having led Manchester City’s reserve team to the U23 league championship and managed Italy’s Parma for only half a year before being dismissed, Leicester decided to take a gamble and bring this young coach from the 1980s to their broad proving grounds.
Maresca brought Guardiola’s tiki-taka philosophy to Leicester City. Under his guidance, the team saw significant improvements in ball possession and short-passing skills, leading the Championship with over 60% possession and an average of 577 short passes per game. The nostalgic long-ball tactic of Vardy seems to have become a thing of the past.
Under the meticulous coaching of Maresca, the once considered one-dimensional and clearly flawed players of the Premier League’s Leicester City have undergone a thorough transformation. Dewsbury-Hall, who was once criticized for lacking both offensive and defensive abilities, has reaped rich rewards this season, securing his place among the best eleven in the Championship with double-digit goals and assists.
The player known as the Premier League’s African midfield anchor with a scant number of goals, Ndidi, has also shone this season, delivering an impressive report card of 4 goals and 5 assists. During Maresca’s first stint at the helm of a senior team, his advocated “beautiful football” has already begun to show results.
Looking back at Leicester City’s triumph as Premier League champions 8 years ago, they have since had to face the “pillage” of their star players being poached each year, with Chelsea’s poaching being most severe. Kante, Mahrez, Chilwell, and Fofana are among those who have been plucked away, leaving behind only the 37-year-old veteran Jamie Vardy.
Last summer, Vardy had the opportunity to leave amidst his teammates’ departures but chose to stay on for another year. Despite his retirement age, the veteran has still displayed incredible fighting spirit. While often troubled by injuries and limited playtime, his 18 season goals are testament to his efficiency, especially in playing the savior during crucial moments.
Vardy’s determination and effort ultimately paid off. On the night of the season’s promotion, he emotionally stated that the team had fully invested in the matches and training, and had set new goals for the upcoming challenges—specifically, aiming for 100 points in the league to celebrate with the fans.
For Vardy personally, there’s also a potential challenge that if Salah leaves the Premier League this summer, regardless of his performance next season, he could well become the top active Premier League scorer. Despite his age, regarding retirement, Vardy says his legs are still healthy and he’s not ready to leave football yet.
For Leicester City, relegation seems like an inescapable nightmare, but they face a daunting challenge to secure their Premier League status next season, which could potentially be even more difficult than the victory in the 2015-16 season.
Since last year, the Premier League has actively been implementing Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) and has already fined Everton and Nottingham Forest for breaches. Leicester City may soon face similar penalties. In March this year, the Premier League announced it might implement a points deduction for “excessive losses” against Leicester City, a penalty that won’t change even if they manage to avoid relegation. Although Leicester City gained a “suspended sentence” through an appeal, it will not be a viable means to continue winning the survival fight.
Next season, Leicester City could face the disadvantage of starting with negative points. To achieve financial balance, Leicester City might need to sell players to balance the books. During the winter transfer window this year, Brighton attempted to buy Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City for £20 million, a deal which Leicester City strongly opposed, but now it may be brought up again.
Starting with a negative score is a huge challenge for any team, and Leicester City, a seasoned team with many years in the Premier League, is no exception. In contrast, last season’s Championship winners, Burnley, secured promotion with overwhelming results, but they are currently only second last in the standings and may need to readjust. Although Burnley was not affected by any point deduction and their performance in the Championship was better than Leicester’s, they still face a difficult situation. For Leicester City, they have gone through constant changes in the leadership position throughout the season, only securing promotion in May, and now must confront an even more complex situation.
For Leicester City, who once created the “Leicester City Miracle,” the pain they suffered through these shaky times may not seem too severe. After all, they have already demonstrated their capacity to overcome adversity.
