What They Said 2016/17: Leicester City
Leicester City were never going to be able to repeat their Premier League title success of 2015/16 but few predicted such a turbulent season for the Foxes.
As they embarked on a first-ever Champions League campaign the Foxes struggled in the league with manager Claudio Ranieri eventually being sacked.
Eventually though, with Craig Shakespeare as caretaker manager, the club finished safely in mid-table – ten points clear of the relegation zone.
The Worst Possible Start
The reigning champions got off to the worst possible start when they lost 2-1 to a managerless Hull City side with limited numbers of first team players available.
“We tried, but we were second-best, Hull deserved to win,” said captain Wes Morgan. “It was the first game so there was always going to be a bit of rust on the players.
“We need to dust that off and come back better. At the top, everyone looks for you to fall – we need to show it’s a blip, and that we can bounce back.”
Vardy reminds fans what he can do
With Champions League progress secured, an under-strength City side lost 5-0 to Porto in December but bounced back with a remarkable 4-2 win over Manchester City as Jamie Vardy scored a hat-trick.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
“It was the true Leicester, maybe because we have played so badly in our last few matches, but today we were so strong,” said Ranieri.
“We played smart, slowed down the tempo. I am very pleased for Jamie. When he finished, I said ‘welcome back’.”
Ranieri shown the door
Despite being in the Last 16 of the Champions League, title-winning Ranieri was sacked, and it got a reaction as Leicester stunned Liverpool 3-1 to move out of the Premier League’s bottom three.
Caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare said: “I could see in their eyes that they were up for the fight in the warm-up. The professionalism of the players has never been questioned by me.
“Having taken training with them, I know the criticism has hurt and perhaps there was a little more fire in the belly because of that.
“They know they are guilty of underperforming – but this is only one result and we must build on that.”
(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
Shakespeare becomes permanent manger
Having helped City out of the relegation and to a respectable league finish, Shakespeare was finally confirmed as the full-time replacement to Ranieri, in June.
“This is a really exciting opportunity for me to continue along this new path in my career and to continue to work with a club and a group of staff I’ve grown extremely close to,” he said.
“Our preparations for pre-season and the new Premier League campaign have been on-going for some time, but we can now move on with certainty and ensure we are well equipped to compete at the levels now expected of a club like Leicester City.”
