As the dust settles on a sensational Leicester City FA Cup Final win, Leicester fans will know how much this means to the club but there are so many factors that mean this could be the biggest result of the season in football, here’s why.
‘Big clubs’ are judged on trophies
If the FA cup has taught us anything in recent times, it’s that it is a ‘big six’ competition. Wigan in 2012 and Everton in 1995 are the only recent examples of the so called ‘big names’ being felled at the final hurdle. What’s odd about this year’s shock win was that it was achieved by a team sat higher in the league than their loftier counterparts.
Leicester are not expected to win silverware, this victory constitutes only their fifth major piece of silverware in the entire 137 year history whilst Chelsea have 25 major trophies to their name (17 of them coming since the turn of the century). This shouldn’t happen. That it did happen could be a sign of things to come, but make no mistake Leicester City are a long way off being accepted into the ‘big club’ VIP lounge to chow on cigars and look down on the rest. Nor would Leicester accept the invitation invited.
A coach with a new found taste for silverware
Brendan Rodgers has now won his first piece of silverware in English football as a coach. There was a sense that at Liverpool Rodgers couldn’t quite get over the line and achieve greatness at Anfield. The league title eluded him late in 2013/2014 as well as an FA Cup semi final to Aston Villa which was then matched in the League cup with Leicester in 2019/2020. Getting this trophy monkey off his back could have long lasting effects for himself, his squad and his staff going forward.
Inevitably the media will try and match him with a suitor that they believe is more in keeping with a trophy winning coach. Spurs are still looking and Arsenal don’t look convinced with Arteta. But with Brendan Rodgers settled in the East Midlands, working in a world class training facility and with a squad brimming full of playing talent, why would he want to leave.
A talented Leicester City squad coming of age
The talent on display at the King Power Stadium continues to be impressive in all areas. Right through the starting eleven and squad. There were some huge displays in this cup final that brought to light some extraordinary players with huge futures in their careers.
Youri Tielemans’ strike will be replayed forever more, as he wrote himself into Leicester folklore and FA cup final history with a shot so beautiful it almost feels imagined. Kasper Schmeichel likewise with 2 saves of epic proportions as big as goals themselves. Wesley Fofana grew in stature with Jonny Evans departure and Wilfred Ndidi continued his persistent combatting in midfield. Every Leicester player dug in deep and did so with an air of quality that belied simple backs to the walls journeyman type spirit. This is a young squad of players that have now tasted silverware and a winning feeling they will want to relive again and again. This could only be the beginning.
The Ben Chilwell paradox
Players leaving for pastures new, will never change, no matter the level of the club players will always leave to advance their career. Leicester City have suffered a big name departure every summer since 2015 (Esteban Cambiasso, N’Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell). Jermaine Jenas made note in the commentary that the boos for when Chilwell touched the ball were ‘harsh’ from the Leicester fans.
Chilwell only moved to a club to better his career and earn even more money, which is very fair. But Leicester fans have grown accustomed to this attitude over time and yesterday perhaps the boos were justified. Just to let him know that leaving their club isn’t something that they are in favour of, that staying at Leicester should be the focus and that in this final make no mistake, you’re the enemy.
The heckling possibly could be what drove Chilwell’s desire to ghost into the box at the end and cause pandemonium before bundling in an equaliser and performing an emotional knee slide with the delirious Chelsea fans. But hang on a second! Football isn’t that simple anymore and the drama took a new twist when VAR revealed Chilwell’s run had gone too early (just like his Leicester career) causing a dramatic offside call and an even more delirious reaction from the foxes faithful.
How he must have wished the ground would swallow him up! I genuinely wish him well in the Champions League final as that was something that Leicester couldn’t give him. But he could have had an FA cup winners medal round his neck yesterday and instead watched his former teammates enjoy their victory right before his eyes. Its nothing personal Ben, no club wants to see their best players leave and only a select few are afforded a heroes welcome when meeting again.
The season is already a success and it can get better
As i wipe the rotten fruit and veg from that headline, just remember that the word ‘perspective’ is a wonderful thing. Rewind to the start of the season and check your own expectations of what this season was going to bring. If it involved an FA cup trophy and a minimum fifth placed finish then you would have been called an optimistic Leicester fan.
Last season finished so unceremoniously with a dramatic drop off that coupled with a European campaign surely Leicester would do well to get anywhere near last seasons heroics. With 2 games to go they already have four points more than they finished last season.
This whilst managing a horrendous run of injuries that is still continuing. The club have worked heroically to achieve what they have so far, with one final push they can also qualify for the Champions League and relive those glorious nights again. But make no mistake, this season has already seen remarkable progress. Silverware and European football are guaranteed and maybe more to come.