Leicester have improved their league form, but their priority should be the Conference League

Leicester City’s fortunes in the Premier League have improved of late after what’s largely been a frustrating season for the Foxes in the English top-flight.

Having finished 5th in the league for two consecutive seasons, Brendan Rodgers’ side have rarely brushed the European places this campaign and currently sit 10th.

However, they have won five of their last eight matches in all competitions and were unlucky to leave Old Trafford with just a point as the East Midlands outfit were held 1-1 by Manchester United on Saturday.

With sixth-placed West Ham 14 points ahead of the Foxes, qualification for European competition next term via the league seems increasingly unlikely.

Although, with a Europa Conference League quarter-final against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven to come, there is still a chance that Rodgers’ team will be playing in Europe for a third consecutive campaign.

Granted, dropping out of the Europa League at the group stage was a colossal disappointment, however, the Foxes now face an excellent chance to add to last season’s FA Cup triumph and become the inaugural winners of the newly-formed Conference League.

Aggregate victories against Danish side Randers and French outfit Rennes have seen Leicester reach the quarter-final stage of the third tier of European competition, with two games against PSV next up before a potential semi-final against either AS Roma or Bødo/Glimt.

The Dutch giants come to the King Power Stadium on Thursday night off the back of a 13 game unbeaten streak across all competitions, with Roger Schmidt’s team second in the Eredivisie, four points behind leaders Ajax.

However, the German coach won’t continue in Eindhoven next season, with Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy confirmed to take over as manager from next season.

In an ideal world, Leicester would’ve had the home leg second, although the scrapping of the away goals rule arguably diminishes that argument. It’s the third time the Foxes have had to host first in the knockout stages of the Conference League and taking an aggregate lead to Holland is vital.

A Conference League triumph would see Rodgers’ side automatically enter next season’s Europa League, a target that ultimately has to take priority as we enter the final two months of the campaign.

Granted, two sides with rich European pedigree in PSV and Roma (most likely) will stand in the way of the East Midlands club reaching the final of the competition. However, with a plethora of attacking talent at their disposal, they have to fancy themselves as strong contenders for the title. Their season depends on it.

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