Leicester City declare “unwavering support” for Claudio Ranieri

Kasper Schmeichel described Leicester’s 3-0 loss at home to Manchester United on Sunday as “unacceptable” and Ranieri endorsed the goalkeeper’s withering assessment.

“They were working for one complete season with one match per week, competing against other teams domestically that were playing in the Champions League while they weren’t”. Even Leicester did business in the summer and brought in players like Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa.

League games against Liverpool, Hull, Arsenal and West Ham also follow in what promises to be a pivotal six weeks for Leicester.

Vardy looks the one-dimensional player who, two years ago, had a solitary Premier League goal to his name. This season it has fallen apart. Some of our players from these attacking creative positions they could – they should – score more goals.

“Let’s not talk about last season”. Last season by this time he was competing for the golden boot.

The Italian has denied those rumours but judging by the latest ban he’s imposed, you could understand if the players are starting to question his authority. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. Wes Morgan and Robert Huth again resemble the one-paced throwbacks who seemed a Championship player and a Stoke City reject respectively.

“It’s a very hard match for us and also a very hard match for them”.

Riyad Mahrez, the PFA player of the year, has not scored from open play in the Premier League since last April.

It is quite clear that they are massively faltering in both the crucial aspects of the game.

Derby’s record on the road has been patchy since the turn of the year, but the Rams have lost just one of their last seven away ties in this competition and McClaren’s men will certainly feel that they are capable of causing an upset at King Power Stadium.

Of the new signings, Nampalys Mendy looks lightweight in midfield, young Wilfred Ndidi is having to learn fast and striker Ahmed Musa has not done enough to get in the starting line-up.

And that would be the deeper significance and danger of any relegation battle, too, only heightening the pressure. Witness Burnley’s blatantly handled late victor against them the other night.

However, it would spoil some of its historic status were it to be immediately followed by one of the worst failures of any title victor ever; if they were to become the first defending champions since Manchester City in 1958 to immediately get relegated.