Speaking on the latest episode of The Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast, Jonathan Fadugba issued a worrying verdict on Leicester City’s push for a top-four finish.
On January 1 of this year, Leicester sat in second place in the Premier League table – one point ahead of third-placed Manchester City, 12 ahead of fourth-placed Chelsea and 14 ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United.
However, since January 1, the club have won just three of their 13 Premier League games, falling to fourth place in the table – 10 points behind second-placed Manchester City, one behind third-placed Chelsea and just one ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United.
In addition to this, Brendan Rodgers’ side also exited the FA Cup in the quarter-finals after a loss to Chelsea and lost in the semi-final of the League Cup to Aston Villa.
And, on the subject of the Foxes poor form in 2020, Jonathan Fadugba stated on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast that it looks like Leicester are ‘tanking’.
He said: “I think there’s worrying signs for Leicester, to be honest, and they are kind of tanking. They’ve only won three games since the beginning of January in the league. So, it’s been quite a strange season, in the sense that all the bigger teams were floundering at the beginning of the season and Leicester kind of ran away and looked like they were well clear and definitely getting Champions League, and then all of a sudden, they’ve just slowed down.
“They’ve lost so many games, or drawn so many games – it’s almost weird that they haven’t been caught up yet. I think they’re struggling, and with four games to go, I’m not convinced they’re going to definitely wrap up that third spot.”
TIF Thoughts…
Leicester’s blistering start to the season has ensured that they are still currently in a top-four spot, and, with just four games remaining of the Premier League season – the last of which is a crunch match against Manchester United – they haven’t got much longer to hold on to secure Champions League football for next season.
However, if they do drop out of the top-four, they may still have a chance at qualifying for Europe’s most prestigious club tournament, as Manchester City are currently waiting to hear on the result of their appeal against a two-year ban from European football.
Do you believe Leicester can go on to secure a top-four finish this season?
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If that is upheld, as well as Leicester ensuring that they finish in the top-five, then Champions League football will indeed be on the cards for the Foxes next season.