How Leicester City will see out the 2018/19 season

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers speaks of the club’s plans to see out the season. Including the development squad’s chance of influence, playing Arsenal and more.

Three extremely tough Premier League matches await Leicester City: Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. Most noteworthy is the fact that the Foxes are most likely limited to a top eight finish, as Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Watford.

Wolves certainty deserve a seventh place finish and trip to Europe in the Europa League next season. They may be Midlands rivals of Leicester but thoroughly earned their status. Inevitably, Brendan Rodgers’ outfit will be chasing Everton and the West Midlands side down next campaign. Providing sideEast Midlanders have a more successful foray into the transfer market next term.

Frankly, it is difficult to accurately gauge the Foxes in a 2018/19 season overview. Partly due to more management restructuring off and on the field. And, of course, the disaster at King Power Stadium which took beloved chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in October.

Grief counseling was available and used, the squad traveled to Thailand twice for the wake, along with Khun Vichai’s funeral. There is no telling how difficult it has been, and still is, for some players to display the best of their abilities.

Many of the team were closely affected by the passing of a father figure and man who gave them so much – career-wise and personally. Football can seem insignificant on occasion, this being the perfect example.

Yet, some, including this writer, conclude the side has then performed almost above expectation. Claude Puel was respectful during very difficult times; but his style and system didn’t suit the all-action club. Not to mention being a poor fit for the now more demanding Blue Army. Thus, Rodgers arrived to the glee of both roster and faithful. All of whom now surmise a joyful future.

Time will tell; although Rodgers is a seemingly perfect fit for the ambitious and energetic Leicester City Football Club. That, with regards to youth development, European experience – albeit a dire recent record with Celtic – and a perennial media friendly positive outlook.

On the subject of how Leicester will see out the campaign, for example whether or not they’ll experiment will team and system choices, Rodgers said this:

"Asked if he will tinker with the side, Brendan Rodgers replied:“Not so much. I think the three remaining games (against Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea) are very exciting, which is great.“We’ll just finish the season as strongly as we can and take it from there.BR’s response to the question of doing Liverpool a favour versus Manchester City:“I haven’t given it a great deal of thought. We have a game before that but my job is to do Leicester a favour.“Every game is important. These are exciting games in this last period of the season and we will look to give our best.”Via Leicester Mercury"

It is rather reassuring to hear a Leicester City manager commit to acquiring as many points as possible. Additionally, it is hopefully an indication that management may ditch the philosophy of fielding a weaker starting XI in cup competitions. That will be to the delight of the supporters.

Two team areas that are proving improved under the Irishman’s tutelage are mental toughness and playing to their strengths; as explained by the gaffer to lcfc.com.

More from Foxes of Leicester

• Enzo Maresca hails four star Leicester players
• Harry Winks reveals his easy decision to join Leicester
• Southampton 1-4 Leicester City: 3 Foxes positives and negatives
• Southampton 1-4 Leicester: 3 things learned
• Predicted Leicester City starting XI vs Southampton

Leicester City’s run-ins since 2015’s Great Escape

In 2014/15 Leicester’s finale of saw them win two and draw one. During the last three contests of 2015/16 the King Power club were victorious over Everton but drew with Manchester United as well as Chelsea. The run-in for the 2016/17 term saw the Foxes narrowly lose to Manchester City, be demolished 6-1 by Tottenham Hotspur and draw with Fulham.

2017/18 was again particularly inconsistent with a loss to West Ham United, a 3-1 win versus Arsenal – in an excellent omen for Sunday’s clash – and another apparently thrilling beating from Spurs. Quite the fluctuation in completing the season exhibited there. A draw, win and loss is our upcoming prediction for 2018/19’s ending.

Unai Emery’s Arsenal come to King Power Stadium on Sunday, kick-off is 12pm BST. Over their previous four meetings, the Gunners have defeated the Foxes three times.