image source, Getty Images
- author, Andrew Aloia
- role, bbc sports
Few teams have been promoted to the top flight like Leicester City, and perhaps no team has been promoted to the top flight under such chaotic circumstances.
Leeds United's loss to QPR on Friday ensured the Foxes' return to the Premier League with two games remaining. If they win their remaining matches, Leicester will equal the record for most wins in the league in a second division season.
Victory would take them to 100 points, a feat that has only been achieved at this level six times before, including at Leicester themselves, who last did so 10 years ago.
For six of the nine months of this season, Leicester looked destined to break just about every record on their way back to the Premier League.
But a combination of near-disastrous results, a legal battle after the Premier League were accused of breaching profit and sustainability regulations, the threat of points penalties against their return to the top flight, and a transfer ban imposed on them. but somewhat obscures their situation. success.
Wes Morgan won promotion as Leicester captain 10 years ago and won the Premier League title as captain two years later.
He said Leicester's dramatic record of six losses in 10 games between February and April narrowed the gap to the top of the table by 12 points, and the gap to third place by 14 points. It's just one example of why it's one of those things.” League of the World”.
“They definitely made it a lot more difficult than you expected,” Mr Morgan told BBC East Midlands Today.
“Their form up until Christmas and really throughout most of the season was unbelievable.
“But for some reason, the wheels came off, we fell off, the other teams we were chasing caught up to us, and it was a close call for a few weeks.”
Leicester won 25 of their first 32 games and were on track to break the record for most points in the Second Division with 106 points, set by Reading in 2006.
“The first 25 games were great, but losing six of the next 10 was not surprising,” Leicester defender Hamza Chaudhry said at a press conference on Friday, hours before Leicester's promotion was confirmed.
“But we've got a lot of experienced players here, guys who have come through this division, so that's what brought us together.
“Honestly, it's just pure belief in what we're doing here and the direction we're going in.”
The direction they have taken has been determined by manager Enzo Maresca, who was Josep Guardiola's assistant when Manchester City won the treble last season.
Their possession-oriented approach, based on patient build-up play and stifling possession, was a departure from what is familiar at the King Power Stadium.
According to Opta statistics, Leicester were the team who controlled more possession, completed more passes and connected more passes of 10 or more, with Leicester winning convincingly twice this season. Only one Southampton.
Off the ball, the Foxes were as relentless as anyone when pressing high and led the way in winning the ball back in the final third. He achieved this 222 times.
Leicester have the league's second most prolific attack with 86 goals in 44 games, and the league's meanest defense, conceding just 39 goals.
image source, Getty Images
Despite what the 'Maresca Ball' brought to the table, it is not universally liked by Foxes supporters.
Former Foxes captain Morgan said: “Enzo came in and had a clear idea of how he wanted the team to play and he has performed well for the majority of the season. Ta.
“The football they played, the composure they showed, the way Enzo did it worked.
“Fans sometimes want to see more expansive, exciting football and direct play, but at the same time the manager is in charge and finding ways to make the team work and win.”
Leicester become the 28th team to immediately return to the Premier League after being relegated, and could become the 13th team to return as champions in the 32 years since the Premier League began in 1992.
Chaudhry said meeting the demands of Maresca, a former West Brom and Juventus player who spent just 180 days in charge of the first team at Parma, was the biggest and most challenging task of the season.
“We came in and completely changed the style of football, but we still managed to be successful,” said the defender.
“The manager has been fantastic from day one, to be honest. I think the biggest setback for the players, the club and the fans was the style of football.”
“This is completely new for Leicester City and certainly the direction that football is going in right now, along with Brighton, of course Manchester City, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and others.
“This is a style that thrives, so it’s great to have a player with his experience, and a player who’s not only been at City but has played experience, and the staff he’s brought in.”
image source, Getty Images
Maresca's work during last summer's transfer window was also impressive.
Abdel Fattau, on loan from Sporting Lisbon, is a fan favorite, former Arsenal and Juventus winger Steffi Mavididi is an almost constant threat, Harry Winks is a calm midfield manager and Mats Hermann Sen has earned plaudits as the season's championship goalkeeper.
However, a number of notable players remained after the relegation, with Jamie Vardy and Keiynan Dewsbury-Hall being the most influential.
Midfielder Dewsbury-Hall has found the back of the net 12 times, provided 14 assists and been involved in 26 goals, attracting the attention of a number of clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham and Brighton.
Former England striker Vardy has been a symbol of Leicester City's unprecedented success over the past decade, winning promotion in 2013-14, winning the Premier League in 2016, winning the FA Cup in 2021 and winning the Champions League in between. He featured in the league and other European campaigns. .
The 37-year-old is Leicester's top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions. Before last season's relegation, he was the Foxes' top scorer for seven consecutive seasons in the Premier League.
“The biggest compliment I can give him is that he's disappointed with the numbers,” Chaudhry said of Vardy's performance this term.
“'Vars' is a great player for us. Even though he is 37 years old, we can see that he is still performing at the highest level.
“He represents Leicester City, who we are as a club and what we aspire to be.”
