Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

The wingers that could guide Leicester City to UEFA Champions League success

By Dominic Wells

BREMEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 22: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Thorgan Hazard of Borussia Dortmund controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund at Wohninvest Weserstadion on February 22, 2020 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
BREMEN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 22: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Thorgan Hazard of Borussia Dortmund controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund at Wohninvest Weserstadion on February 22, 2020 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Harvey Barnes of Leicester City chases the ball during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Harvey Barnes of Leicester City chases the ball during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester City at The King Power Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images) /

There are ten games remaining for Leicester City to cement their UEFA Champions League place for next season. The point difference between themselves and the chasing pack has shrunk in recent weeks but it still remains healthy.

Chelsea currently reside in the final UCL spot, sitting six points behind the Foxes, while Manchester United are a further three points behind. Champions League is by no means confirmed. Leicester still face a multitude of difficult fixtures before the end of the season but planning for Europe’s elite competition is never a bad decision.

The first legs of the Champions League’s round of 16 fixture now concluded, it’s time to look at some numbers. A total of 18 goals were scored across games, with nine of those scored by wingers (50%). Among the remaining 50%, three were assisted by a winger, taking the tally further up to 67%.

The increased use of the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations has seen wingers move from their traditional wide position, as seen in a 4-4-2, to playing closer to the strikers. The offensive output has therefore become increasingly valuable and the perfect metric to measure the quality of a modern winger.

Leicester currently have four recognised wingers in their Premier League squad: Harvey Barnes, Ayoze Perez, Marc Albrighton and Demarai Gray.

Barnes, who primarily plays as a left-midfielder (16 out of his 19 starts have been on the left) thrives on his ability to cut inside the defender on his stronger right foot. This natural movement allows Ben Chilwell to overlap with extra room in the wings, allowing the two to compliment each other offensively.

At only 22-years-old, Barnes has a high skill-ceiling, but with his inexperience comes a tendency to make poor decisions, normally in the final third. Throughout the pitch, Barnes is an asset. He’s quick and has sharp passing transitions with his central-midfield partner. It’s the final pass, dribble or shot that often lets him down – however, it must also be noted his ability grows with every game.

After arriving from Newcastle United for £30 million, Ayoze Perez has provided decent goal-scoring ability from wide. In only 1518 minutes spread across 24 games for Leicester, the Spaniard has contributed 11 goals (seven goals and four assists).

Perez’s previous stints as a striker have aided his movement and finishing in front of goal – but Brendan Rodgers requires more from his wingers. A possession orientated game isn’t natural for Perez, who has a simplistic passing range. Perez makes up for what Barnes occasionally lacks in the final third is and vice-versa for deeper progressions of the ball.

Albrighton and Gray, meanwhile, have seen very few minutes in comparison to their counterparts. The consistency off the bench from Albrighton makes him a valuable squad player but unfortunately, nothing more than that.

Gray’s potential still hasn’t been realised. His inconsistency has had an influence on his game minutes (412) this season, but his match-winning ability is undeniable.

Before signing someone this summer, one of the four must be offloaded. Rodgers has to decide on his preferences: either consistency or ability. That is what will decide whether it’s Albrighton who stays or it’s Gray.

Preferably, the incoming replacement should be a right-footed left-winger – as his natural inside movement will provide similar spaces to when Barnes cuts inside – a good finisher abled at intelligent interplay and sharp rotations of the ball around the corner and within the triangle (James Maddison and Chilwell) structure, and finally, decisive. There’s four players who fit the bill.