Pep Guardiola might be one of the best coaches in the world judging by his honours and records having won the Champions league twice and also winning the German Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga on several occasions with the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona yet this did nothing to help him as Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City tore his side to shreds in the Premier League game on Saturday at the King Power Stadium. Leicester City did not waste time to make their intentions known having gone 2-0 up in the first five minutes of the game with Riyad Mahrez , Islam Slimani, Andy King and Jamie Vardy running riot. Such was Leicester’s form on the night that German centre back Robert Huth created more chances (2) in the opening 60 minutes than all of Kelvin De Bruyne(0), Ilkay Gundogan (0) and Jesus Navas (0) combined together.
That was not all as Guardiola’s side failed to win a single tackle in the first 35 minutes of the game coupled with their attempted 25 crosses of which only two were completed which is in stark contrast to Leicester’s attempted crosses of two of which all were successful in the first half.
The situation will only get worse in the second half as Jamie Vardy completed his hat-trick after another John Stones error (the defender has become a calamity at the back since his £45 million summer signing from Everton). Also this became the first time a team managed by the legendary Spaniard (Pep Guardiola) would concede three goals or more in back to back league games (lost 3-1 loss to Chelsea at the Etihad last weekend) .
Though City will later score two goals to end the game 4-2, it became apparent that Leicester were the masters on the night having threaded 115 passes to City’s 623 yet having more clear cut chances and being the more dangerous team. This was counter attacking football at his best as it brought back memories of last season’s Leicester who won the Premier League last season having played such pattern to perfection. To illustrate further how poor City were on the night it is important to note that Robert Huth had made a total of six clearances in the first half which was more than that of the entire Manchester City team. This maybe the reason former Birmingham and Blackburn Rovers defensive midfielder Robbie Salvage had this to say, “Man City are a shambles defensively but this is the Leicester of last season .”
“We wanted to make sure we were competitive today and see the team fighting for the cause and we have done that,” were the words of the hat – trick hero Jamie Vardy who had only managed two goals in 14 league games prior to the game with City on the night. Things will only get more embarrassing for City fans considering this is the same side who lost 5-0 away to Espírito Santo’s FC.Porto only three days ago in the Champions League although Leicester still qualified for the second round as group winners despite the set-back.
It is also shocking that City conceded four goals in the game against a struggling side who before the game were struggling at the foot of the table having won only three games out of 14 matches scoring 17 goals and conceding 24 goals in the process. Having bossed possession 59% on the night , City were expected to do better although the team missed the absence of first choice players like Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero who are both serving a three match suspension for the former and four match suspension for the later after seeing red in their last game against Chelsea. Such was Vardy’s form on the night that he got his hat-trick as early as the 78 minute.
Though the win still leaves Leicester City rooted in 16th, it could be the start of a new beginning considering the distraction of the Champions League is gone until February as Claudio Ranieri on the night has responded in the right manner to his critics. For all Leicester City fans this was clearly the best game of the new season as they hope for more to come from their heroes in subsequent games.
Stats by Opta.
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