As it was expected to do after capturing the Premier League title last season in stunning fashion, Leicester City spent a lot of money to compete on dual fronts and has struggled on one of them.
Somewhat surprisingly, most of the offseason additions have not panned out, yet the Foxes have excelled in the Champions League and floundered domestically. A 2-1 defeat of Club Brugge clincheda spot in the round of 16 with a match to spare. In the Premier League, they are in the bottom half of the standings and heading into a game against Sunderland Dec. 3 were just two points above therelegation zone.
Of the six acquisitions on which Leicester spent about $78 million, Algerian striker Islam Slimani can be deemed as a success to date. He scored a huge goalin a 1-0 defeat of Porto on a pass from compatriot Riyad Mahrez. Slimani has scored four goals this season.
One of the acquisitions — keeper Ron-Robert Zieler — is causingFoxes’ fans to impatiently monitor the recovery of regular keeper Kasper Schmeichel, who is at least a few weeks away for his fractured right hand to heal. Schmeichel suffered the injuryNov. 2 against FC Copenhagen and his absence has exacerbated the Foxes’ troubles.
His nervy moments in goal have infected the team on many occasions and eroded the rigid stabilityin the back line that carried Leicester to gritty wins and ties against superior foes last season. Schmeichel is still training separate from the rest of the team though manager Claudio Ranierihopes he’ll be ready for the crunch of games looming during the holidays.
“It depends on him and the surgeon,” said Ranieri.
An ankle injury suffered on theopening day of the season has sidelined Namplays Mendy, bought from Nice to replace N’Golo Kante, who is playing a vital role in the transformation of Chelsea under the tutelage ofAntonio Conte. Nigerian winger Ahmed Musa has struggled.
Defender Luis Hernández hasn’t played a league match since the Foxes were beaten 3-0 at Chelseasix weeks ago. Midfielder Bartosz Kapustka has not played at all, as manager Claudio Ranieri has deemed the 19-year-old from Poland not up to the physical demands of Premier Leagueplay.
Other young players who have been groomed by the Leicester City coaching staff haven’t been able to contribute much. Another 19-year-old, defender Ben Chilwell, is justreturning to full training while recovering from an ankle injury. Winger Demarai Gray has earned only one start though he’s been effective as a substitute.
For the Copenhagengame Ranieri switched to a three-man back line but so dire was the resulting play that it was abandoned during the match. Hernandez had won his way back into the starting lineup only to labor througha weak performance.
The upcoming transfer window is the first since former Liverpool scout Eduardo Macia was named as head of recruitment to replace of Steve Walsh, who leftthe club to work at Everton. One target is Genk midfielder Wilfred Ndidi; he is tabbed as another option to replace Kante and the club is reportedly preparing an offer of around $18 million forhim.
Leicester need at least some of next month’s signings to pay off faster than their summer ones. It would be a boon if turned out to be a ready-made replacement for Kante and hewon’t miss time in January because of the African Cup of Nations. His country, Nigeria, didn’t qualify, though Mahrez and Slimani will play in that competition, as will DanielAmartey of Ghana.
The Foxes’ road form has been poor. A loss at Watford three weeks ago was the fifth in the last six away games. Last year they lost only twice on the road allseason and their haul of 39 points (11 wins, six ties) were five more than any other team. Jamie Vardy scored 19 Premier League goals last season; he’s scored just three thiscampaign.
Ranieri admits his team are not clicking but is reassured, at least, that this is not due to a drop in motivation.
“If we compare with last season, we aremissing everything,” he concedes. “But the spirit is the same.”