Leicester City should look to challenge for a top-six spot next season after their recent resurgence.
Leicester City’s Marc Albrighton applauds fans after the match
Leicester City proved doubters wrong again this season as they made it to the Champion’s League quarter-finals, narrowly losing out to a tough Atletico Madrid side 2-1 on aggregate.
A poor run of form in the league, capped off by a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Champion’s League last-16 first-leg, led to the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri after leading Leicester to an unexpected Premier League title last season.
Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare
Craig Shakespeare took over as caretaker manager before being confirmed as Leicester manager in March until the end of the season.
He has since revitalized their faltering league campaign, winning five league games in a row, including a 3-1 victory over Liverpool, to all but guarantee their safety for another season.
The 53-year-old reverted to the more direct and fast counter-attacking approach that won Leicester so many plaudits last season and brought about their success.
Danger men such as Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardie have found a renewed vigour under Shakespeare, as well as the improved form of additional threat of Demarai Gray, who has played well since Shakespeare took charge.
The Foxes defence, often vulnerable and leaky under Ranieri this season, have also restored their old tenacity from last season and look a far more resolute back line; depicted by their ability to hold off against an Atletico Madrid side in their Quarter-final first leg, who only scored through an Antoine Griezmann penalty.
Shakespeare’s Leicester have found a solution to their miserable earlier league form and look more like the same dangerous side from their remarkable title-winning campaign the previous season.
They have proven once again that they are capable of challenging anyone domestically and they should use this upturn in form as momentum to continue to challenge higher up the Premier League table.
Leicester City possess the quality of players and a winning formula that could see them become a formidable side in the league, pushing at the very least for serious contention at a top six spot, where they will be challenging Everton’s attempt to break into the established six at the Premier League summit.
Leicester City’s Wes Morgan and Leicester City’s Christian Fuchs celebrate full time
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