The Barclays Premier League is known as one of the most competitive leagues in Europe. It produces continuous excitement and creates an atmosphere where on any given day any team can beat the other. The Champions of last season have learnt this the hard way as they are now sitting just one point above the relegation zone after 16 games into the season.
If that is hard to believe, it will be even harder to swallow the fact that Leicester City tops the Barclays Premier League table after 16 games this season. Claudio Ranieri was given the opportunity to manage a Leicester side that prevailed in the top flight of English football in a dramatic final few games last season.
Ranieri who has already managed some big clubs across Europe was immediately tipped off as the wrong choice for the club who lacks star players in important positions. The manager made a number of small scale additions to his squad and without the worrying factor of cup games, is ruling the Premier League at the moment.
Leicester City started the season confidently and looked a side that knew what was needed of them. The players stuck to their task and were not trying hard to impress. The manager’s games style rubbed off on the players as Ranieri started to see positives coming out of every match they played.
In this season, they have lost just one game so far and have drawn 5 in the 16 games they have played. Their only loss came against an Arsenal side that is looking stronger than ever in the race to the title. On their way to the top of the table, Leicester has drawn with Tottenham, United and Southampton and has beaten the Hammers and the Blues.
In-spite of all these results, the Foxes have their own set of doubters who do not genuinely believe that the club can end may be not with a title but at least with a European spot. This is not hard to understand keeping in mind the nature of the Premier League. Southampton started last season in a similar fashion but dropped off in the latter stages to finish outside the European places.
But what has been going well for Leicester City is the fact that they are a side built on their attacking ability and the players believe in themselves in every step they take this season. The Foxes have scored 34 goals this season, 2 more than Manchester City and more than anyone else in the league. This shows how well Ranieri has set his team up time and again even against stronger opponents.
Jamie Vardy has been the talk of the town for Leicester City with his record of most goals in consecutive appearances in the Premier League. The English international is in red hot form and is looking more and more confident as the season passes. He has taken almost every chance he gets in front of goal and is one of the most prolific goal-scorer this season. But he is not the only reason that the Foxes are at the top of the table.
To start off, the back four of Leicester City has been splendid so far this season. They have hardy given away a goal due to a mistake and they make the opposition work hard if they want to score. They are solid at the back and stick to their task giving no space and time for their opponents. This is the core to any successful team and Ranieri has done exceptionally well to get what he has from his back line.
But the major reason for Leicester’s rise this season is surely their command in the mid-field area. Kante has been the pick of the players in the mid-field for the Foxes. His relentless energy on the pitch and the eagerness to close down spaces releases pressure from his back four and gives them some breathing time. Going ahead, Kante is quick and incisive with his passing and more often than not finds his player helping them on the counters.
On the flanks, Riyad Mahrez has been a joy to watch against every opponent. The Algerian national is quick off his feet and has a bag of tricks that can get the better of most defenders. He is also a natural goal scorer and provides Leicester with the width up front that stretches defenses and gives Vardy space for operating from the middle.
More than anything else, the players are fearless and in the face of the opponents every single chance they get. They are aggressive and positive and are looking for was to hurt their opponents every chance they get.
However, most of the credit must go to the manager who has accumulated a superb group of individuals who are now able to understand every part of what their manager wants. It will not be easy for them to maintain this kind of a surge over the whole season but at the moment, it is fair to say that Leicester City is playing the best football in the Premier League this season.