After smashing Manchester City with a 3-1 score line, Leicester City has made it clear they are serious about winning the Premier League Title.
There has been an extensive debate whether Leicester can continue winning games and carry their resilience throughout the season. The way Foxes dominated Manchester City in both halves of the game and created chances without much effort talks for itself about their in-depth quality and intentions.
The Citizens were caught off guard as soon as the referee blew his whistle to commence the game. German defender, Robert Huth, struck a goal in the third minute of the match, providing a perfect start to Leicester City. Since that moment, City never really got going, creating half-hearted chances now and then while only getting a goal in the 87th minute through a header from Aguero.
Here are three major talking points from the match:
BRAINSTORMING FOR PELLIGRINI
It wouldn’t be fair to say that City is, by any means, out of the title race. However, they are down to third place, but only temporarily, since Arsenal is yet to play in its 25th-week fixture and not to mention that an Arsenal win would pull City further down to fourth place.
Pelligrini needs to brainstorm. What we witnessed today was a team trying to survive those 90 minutes to live another day. There was no confidence, quality or brilliance in the playing XI whatsoever. The Chilean manager needs to come up with more creative solutions to attack. David Silva and Yaya Toure were quiet, without creating a single chance. Instead, the teen midfielder, Celina, grabbed an assist with a cross that saw Aguero head the ball into the net. Maybe the youth system might have something to offer to Pelligrini. He should keep all his options open at this point.
WHAT WAS THE PLAN?
Manchester City was at a deadlock more or less in the whole match. The players seemed to be out of ideas without much understanding of what Leicester did to them. There were moments when Leicester City totally outdid City with well thought attacking and defensive plans. Silva looked out of shape while Toure had no clue what was happening. Aguero tried to cut down Leicester spaces but in vain. One obvious thing they can learn from Leicester is how to do their homework before a particular match and to not take any team lightly.
Mahrez and Vardy broke through City defense way too conveniently. The City midfield was mostly static in the first half, and they had no answer to the Foxes’ counter-attacking measures. In fact, had Leicester taken all the chances they missed in front of the goal, it would have been even worse for City.
DREAMS COME TRUE
Well, if it was still the first half of the season, the argument – Leicester are there but only for now – would have made sense; not the case anymore. They are five points clear of the second-placed Tottenham, with only 13 more game weeks to go.
Leicester has only lost twice in the league while grabbing 15 wins on the way which is the best record so far in the league, regarding most wins. They have beaten the hot favorite title contenders, Manchester City, convincingly and are showing no signs of slacking or laying back.
After this game, Leicester City has emerged as a title challenger for the Premiership. With the top tier giants like Arsenal, City, and Chelsea failing to register any convincing wins recently, Ranieri shouldn’t be too humble not to fancy the thought of lifting the Barclays Premier League title this year.
