‘PREM MUST COME FIRST FOR FOXES’
LEICESTER should forget the Champions League – and trade European glory for Premier League salvation.
That’s the view of former Foxes’ favourite Spencer Prior on the eve of arguably the biggest match in their history.
The champions head to Spain to take on Sevilla on Wednesday night to fight for a place in the last eight of the competition.
They do so against a backdrop of miserable domestic form that has left Claudio Ranieri’s side contemplating the unthinkable after achieving the seemingly impossible last May.
And they also crashed out of the FA Cup yesterday, losing 1-0 at League One Millwall.
Prior (right), who won the League Cup with the Foxes in 1997, believes the club need to prioritise Premier League safety above all else – or face the “monstrous” consequences of relegation.
“It’s very worrying what’s going on there,” said Prior, currently the coach of the Thai women’s national team.
“Credit to the owners because they’ve still backed Ranieri and that’s fantastic.
“Given the success he had last year there is no way his job should be under threat.
“I would imagine they would swap a decent result in the Champions League this week for three wins back-to-back in the Premier League.
“They need that element of safety. Success in the Champions League is wonderful for everybody involved in the club – but they don’t want to be going and playing Barnsley next season.”
The Manchester City team of 1938 are the only side to be relegated the season after winning the league – but Leicester’s precarious position means they could soon be rewriting unwelcome history 79 years on.
Leicester have not scored in the league since New Years’ Eve and have been shipping goals at an equally alarming rate. And Prior put Leicester’s season of woe down to the sale of a man who currently looks set for a second successive Premier League winners medal. “Relegation would be an absolute disaster, absolutely monstrous,” said Prior. “It would cost them a huge amount, not just financially, because they’ve bought players to play in the Champions League and the Premier League.
“These guys aren’t going to want to play in the Championship. It would be a disaster on so many levels.
“It’s probably unfair to aim it at the players in terms of the effort that they’re putting in.
“Losing N’golo Kante was a massive reason for the position they now find themselves in.
“The defence is so much more exposed now he’s not around.
“The protection he gave the back four last year was immense.
“He was the foundation for all their success and I just don’t think they’ve managed to replace him.”