Leicester City’s current Premier League campaign is the closest anyone can get to a fairy-tale in real life. They are currently just 3 points away from lifting the Premier League title and have 3 games to win them.
They travel to the Old Trafford this weekend in search of those three points and with star striker Jamie Vardy out suspended, the whole city is now reliant on one man to take them home.
The winner of the PFA player of the year award and deservedly so, Riyad Mahrez has been in sublime form this season and has helped Ranieri’s side take some important points from close matches with some flashes of brilliance all throughout the season
The 25-year old who was born in France began his career as a youth player for French club AAS Sarcelles. He started is professional football career with a 4th division French club before moving to Le Havre AC, a second tier club in the same country.
He move to the English franchise in 2014 and admitted to associating Leicester City to a Rugby team.
Nigel Pierson who had scouts sent for another player ended up moving for the 25-year in the January transfer window in 2014. Mahrez signed a 3 and a half year contract with Leicester City and has ever since been more than just useful for the club.
In his debut season in the Championship, Mahrez helped the club win the Football League Championship and helped Leicester City get promoted to the Premier League.
His performance in the first half season saw him earn a place in the Algerian national side, the country of birth of his parents.
He has since made 24 appearances for the national side and has scored 4 goals, proving that he is made for the highest brand of football.
The 2014-15 season did not really go as expected and in 30 appearances, Mahrez managed just 4 goals to his name but the hard work of the whole team helped them stay in the top flight for yet another season after dramatic scenes in the last round of the domestic league.
The Foxes then bought in Italian maestro Claudio Ranieri before the start of the current season and the rest is just history.
Ranieri has ruled the EPL a few weeks into the tournament and has helped his side stay at the top of the table for most of the season.
He has helped players like N Golo’ Kante, Drinkwater, Fuchs, Morgan and Jamie Vardy showcase their talent and gave them an opportunity to cement a place in the starting XI.
But one Riyad Mahrez just exceeded the expectation of all the people involved in the sport.
In 34 appearances in all competitions, Mahrez has found the net on 17 occasions and also has 11 assists to his name in a stellar season.
Leicester City were knocked out of both the domestic cup competitions early in the season and have had the same set of players playing week in week out and this has also helped the team grind results out in tough games.
With the same group of players playing a lot of football together, the relationship between Mahrez and Vardy does not come as a surprise.
Both players are quick and exceptionally gifted. Their technique is one of the best you will find in the league and with confidence soaring high, both the players have just been unstoppable.
Ranieri needs to be given credit for transforming the side into an unbeatable machine but he should also be lauded for giving the Premier League a partnership like the one between Vardy and Mahrez.
Both players are just 3 points away from a Premier League title and if and when they do lift the trophy, it is nothing more than what they deserve for a sensational season.
From a 4th tier football club in France to the EPL League leaders in just over two years, Riyad Mahrez has now written one of the best ‘rags to riches’ stories and will be hoping that his team do not slip up before taking the last step to the title.
With his performance in the season, surely, Mahrez deserved the PFA player of the year for the Premier League this season as he was undoubtedly the best all-around player in the Premier League this season.