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Roy Keane tears into Leciester after heavy Champions League defeat

Claudio Ranieri's fantastic achievement in guiding Leicester to a fairy tale Premier League win l...



Roy Keane tears into Leciester...
Soccer

Roy Keane tears into Leciester after heavy Champions League defeat

Claudio Ranieri's fantastic achievement in guiding Leicester to a fairy tale Premier League win last season is beginning to look like a distant memory as he faces renewed criticism over the team's form. 

Leicester have suffered heavy defeats to Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea already this season, while they have only picked up two points from their last five games, despite some winnable fixtures in that run for the champions.

In particular, their defeat to Sunderland on the weekend means the Foxes may have to finally accept that they are heading towards a relegation scrap this season, as they are yet to win away from the King Power stadium in the league.

The absence of N'Golo Kante has been frequently noted by fans and pundits alike, with the back four now under more pressure than they had been previously, while Jamie Vardy has had a barren run in front of goal over the past few months as he struggles to find the back of the net, or even the space to get a shot on target. 

There are any numbers of things going wrong with them on the domestic front, but with a historic place in Monday's Champions League draw awaiting them, manager Claudio Ranieri has shown that he knows what it takes to succeed in Europe.

However, with a slightly experimental side on the field on Wednesday night, they were handed a very heavy beating by Porto, who smashed five goals past them and heaped more pressure on the manager, who looks to be struggling to motivate his players this term. 

Speaking on ITV, former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane tore into the team, and issued a stark warning that they are in big trouble this season.

"There are some huge issues," Keane said. "The warning signs have obviously been there for a few months with their league form. To me, the basic fact is I think they’ve lost their hunger they had last year. They’ve obviously had a bit of success and it’s hard to be critical of them. 

"But you look at their manager there who seems a very placid man and he looks really frustrated there. Him and his staff must be scratching their heads. I think the players are trying, it's not a case of them having downed tools or anything like that, but the real desire not to get beaten is gone out the window.

"Football is about good habits, and they've lost all track of what they're about. Their DNA last year, their work rate; it's gone." 

"Absolutely, they’re in a relegation scrap," Keane added.

"It's not just come tonight, because their results have been generally decent in Europe, but Porto are no mugs they had something to play for. and it just all comes together tonight and they got beaten by five [...] it's a tough few months ahead for Leicester City.

"What happened over the last few months, we’ve seen their players get rewarded by new contracts. Financial rewards are fantastic, but that can destroy a club. Too much money too soon for these players, and they just take their eye off the ball. They’re in big trouble."

"It's a massive challenge for everyone at the club. They had all the plaudits last year, which was fantastic, now you've got to dig in and see what you're really about."

Via Football 365

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