Daunting Challenge Ahead for Leicester City
Leicester City faces a monumental task as they enter the crucial phase of their Premier League survival campaign, starting with an imposing fixture against Manchester City this Wednesday. Renowned football writer Rob Tanner voiced his concerns, emphasizing that for Leicester, it's "now or never," especially after the recent international break.
Uphill Battle Against Manchester City
The statistics don't paint a comforting picture for the Foxes; Manchester City has dominated this fixture in recent history, winning nine out of their last ten encounters. More dauntingly, the past six clashes have seen Leicester outscored by an aggregate of 15-4. Tanner, reflecting on these stark numbers, reiterated the urgency and the almost insurmountable challenge that lies ahead for Ruud van Nistelrooy's men.
A Glimmer of Historical Hope
Despite the current grim outlook, Tanner drew parallels to Leicester City’s "Great Escape" about a decade ago, when the team fought valiantly to avoid relegation. He recalled that even in dire circumstances back then, Leicester displayed resilience and weren’t easily overrun. Tanner pointed out that unlike the inexperienced side of 10 years ago, the current squad is seasoned in Premier League battles, suggesting they should theoretically avoid elementary errors and leverage their experience in this crucial part of the season.
The Run-In and Survival Chances
Looking ahead, Leicester faces a daunting run of fixtures including Newcastle United, Brighton, and Liverpool following Manchester City. With Leicester currently trailing by nine points in their survival race, the room for error is non-existent. As Tanner ominously noted, should the Foxes lose to Manchester City and Wolves secure a win against West Ham United, Leicester's situation could transition from challenging to near-impossible.
Final Thoughts: It's Do-Or-Die
With the specter of relegation looming larger with each passing week, Leicester must conjure the spirit of resilience and tenacity that marked their historic survival runs and their incredible Premier League title win in 2016. The Foxes have repeatedly proven their capability to defy odds, and fans will be clinging to hope for another miraculous turnaround.
And a small joke to end with a smile - "How many Manchester United fans does it take to change a light bulb?" None, they are still living in the past, basking in the glory of their history books while we, the Foxes, script our own tales of triumph!
