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Leicester City: Launching the EPL Champion Foxes into 2016-17

By Thomas Atzenhoffer

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Captain Wes Morgan and manager Claudio Ranieri of Leicester City lift the Premier League Trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton at The King Power Stadium on May 7, 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Captain Wes Morgan and manager Claudio Ranieri of Leicester City lift the Premier League Trophy after the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Everton at The King Power Stadium on May 7, 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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The opening weekend of English Premier League action for Leicester City and the rest of the 19 clubs in the English top flight is only just over a fortnight away.

Leicester City still have several preseason friendlies ahead in the meantime as they take on Champions of France Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish title holders FC Barcelona in the International Champions Cup but their first real test ahead of the coming campaign is their Community Shield Match against Manchester United.

I am Thomas Atzenhoffer and I am excited to be your host for what is to be an incredible season of hopefully many more ups than downs for the defending champions of England as they also enter European action for the fourth time in their history and first time as a member of the European Elite in the UEFA Champions League.

After a season that can only be described as one of the greatest sports stories ever told, the Foxes of Leicester are set to begin what is to be one of the most scrutinized title defense seasons in recent English history.

A storybook campaign in 2015-16 for Claudio Ranieri and Leicester City sees the world watching them to debunk just how strong they can be following their improbable title success. Every traditional top six club will be gunning to retake their claim on a position, that to be honest, no one saw Leicester City having the ability to claim, just as the odds makers.

Not only will the pressure be on Leicester City to show they have what it takes to remain in the elite level at the top of the Premiership table, but their blue print of playing every weekend with a never say die, we can do this attitude is likely to see a stark difference in how every club in England approaches this coming season.

Leicester City’s English striker Jamie Vardy (Below) celebrates with Riyad Mahrez. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)
Leicester City’s English striker Jamie Vardy (Below) celebrates with Riyad Mahrez. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images) /

However, Leicester City have an even tougher task ahead of them as they will be looking to take that style of play and preparation to the mid-week European stage in the Champions League.

How important is victory in the FA Community Shield against newly arrived Jose Mourinho at Manchester United to put a marker down for the new season? Will the Foxes have the depth and stamina to handle the extra load of European matches as well as cup ties? Will Ranieri look to use their European matches as extended live action planning in order to focus on remaining in the top four of England? Those are just a few of many questions that I will look to answer this season.

As if the action in England last season did not seem competitive enough with any club having the ability to win any match on any given Sunday, I have never anticipated a new season quite like I have this one, and I look forward to earning your readership and following as we build a community of football loving Foxes on FanSided.

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