West Ham 3-2 Leicester: Importance of omitted players costs Foxes

Leicester City’s matchday versus West Ham United was clouded by news of a COVID-19 breach from certain players within the squad. I’m not one for speculating, or even discussing off-field events, but this article will tactically analyse the importance of the missing players.

It’s been widely reported that five members of the Leicester squad attended a party at Ayoze Pérez’s house, after losing 0-2 at home to Manchester City. This is embarrassing as it is, but if you add some additional information such as; Rodgers specifically asking the players to behave appropriately, and with caution, ahead of the final matches of the season (which he did because of Çağlar Söyüncü’s positive test after playing with Turkey), to ensure the Foxes don’t replicate last seasons deterioration, then it becomes an even bleaker and disrespectful act from those involved.

Again, I don’t want to dissect the politics of it. I’m as disappointed as every other Leicester fan, and believe the players will atone for their misjudgement. But, what I do want to discuss, is how pivotal of a role the players involved have on the current Foxes system and why their absence predetermined the result for Brendan Rodgers’ side.