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Leicester City are struggling at the moment, and it may be difficult to predict just how well this season will end for them.
Just nine months ago the Foxes were crowned FA Cup Champions against the soon to be European Champions Chelsea, with Youri Tielemans’ strike securing them their first ever title in the competition.
Such a win would surely be a catalyst for more success in the current campaign but this has been far from the case in reality, with both their domestic and European performances being sub-par.
It raises questions as to what is next for the club, what are their intentions after such an underwhelming season so far?
Pushing for a top seven finish
Leicester are currently sat 11th in the Premier League table, with just the seven wins from 22 games. They are 10 points behind Wolves in seventh, the final qualification spot for European football next season.
They had a mixed start to the campaign, picking up three wins and three losses in their opening eight games. Recent form has seen them fare worse though with the Foxes picking up just one victory in their last six, and their draw against West Ham United on Sunday evening saw them drop points from a winning position once again.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were also dumped out of the FA Cup in dreadful fashion as the holders were beaten 4-1 away at Nottingham Forest, including a 3-0 deficit at halftime.
Humiliation in the oldest competition in world football and a quarter-final exit in the Carabao Cup means that the Premier League is the only domestic competition they are still competing in, but it’s virtually impossible for them to win the title.
Their only saving grace now is to qualify for a spot in Europe next season, and even that in itself may not be an achievable prospect.
Towards the back end of last season the Foxes where third in the table with five games remaining, sitting five points clear of fourth placed Chelsea. They then lost three of their next five games and come the final day of the campaign, they finished fifth and in the Europa League spots.
Whether it’s a sense of complacency or tired legs heading into the remaining handful of games, Leicester cannot afford to repeat those mistakes if they are to play on the continent next season.
Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur still await them in the next three months, as well as the impressive Wolves this weekend. Reaching the European spots is not an impossible feat, especially with 16 games remaining, but their participation in the UEFA Conference League will not make things any easier.
European showing must improve
The current campaign is only Leicester’s sixth ever season in European football, with them being knocked out of the Europa League Round of 32 last year by Slavia Prague 2-0 on aggregate.
A fifth placed finish in the league ensured that they would return to the competition this season, where they drew Spartak Moscow, Napoli and Legia Warsaw in their group. However their two wins, losses and draws meant that they finished third in the table and have now been demoted to the Conference League.
They brought their recent habits into their opening game against Napoli, drawing 2-2 despite being two goals up. Further disappointment in their group and a final game loss against their Italian opponents ensured they would not continue in the second tier of European football any further.
Such results have been a far cry from their 16/17 Champions League campaign, thanks to their remarkable Premier League title win the season before. They reached the quarter-finals of the competition and were knocked out by Atletico Madrid, who were the runners up the year before. Leicester were also the most successful English team in the competition that season, going further than the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Spurs.
While many fans don’t expect such heights anytime soon, a continental cup run could give them something to cheer about come the end of the campaign.
The Conference League is in its debut season and Rodgers’ side will face Randers FC. They are the clear favourites to progress against the side who are currently fifth in the Danish Superliga, and Leicester could also be argued to be one of the outright favourites for the whole tournament.
Roma, Marseille and Rennes will also have their sights set on the title and will certainly provide tough tests for Leicester should they meet. However a good showing in Europe from the Foxes would not only provide financial benefits but also that must needed belief and proof that they are in fact, a good team.
European success will therefore be crucial to their prospects next season but this won’t come without its challenges, let alone their focus on progress in the Premier League as they look to somewhat save their season domestically.
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