Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that Leicester City’s story is a ‘romantic’ one for football.
The Foxes could have been relegated last season, with them bottom of the Premier League table at Christmas, only for Nigel Pearson’s tactical nouse pulling them out of the drop zone and into safety thanks to a strong end to the campaign.
Since then, Claudio Ranieri has been brought into the helm and the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante as well as a host of other names have been amongst the most impressive performers for a club that has lost just twice this season.
Mahrez has been directly involved in more goals than any other player in England’s top division this season, and Wenger, speaking in Friday’s pre-match news conference, admitted that the Algerian international is ‘amazing’.
In terms of goalscoring, Vardy [provides a bigger threat] but Mahrez can create chances in very tight areas, so I would say that is why they work well together. What is amazing from Mahrez is he’s not only a provider, he is scoring a lot of goals this season.
The Frenchman then discussed the position Leicester are in and admitted that it is refreshing for football to have such a change.
The Leicester story is very romantic, it is good for football and it goes against the demand of usual practice in our game of spending, buying big stars. It’s important to know that this quality works, quality scouting, quality management can produce good results.
They are in a position where they have nothing to lose, but when you’re top of the league you think you could lose what you have. It’s difficult.”
Arsenal face Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, with a win taking them within two points of the league leaders.
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