Leicester City’s success may not be a ‘one-off’, instead a sign of Premier League’s increased competitiveness

Greg Lea explains why Leicester City's Premier League triumph, as remarkable as it is, may be more a sign of the times than a freak occurence.

Fans wave champions falgs after Leicester City clinched the Premier League title. Craig Brough / Reuters

Claudio Ranieri has already suggested plenty of reasons for Leicester City’s extraordinary title-winning exploits this season, the type of triumph that was not thought possible in football’s modern age.

There are also the not insignificant matters of a coherent and well-defined game plan, astute recruitment and coaching, and fine individual quality within a collective framework, all key factors in Leicester claiming the crown and becoming the first new champions of England since Nottingham Forest in 1978.

They have also taken advantage of many of the traditional Premier League powers underachieving and failing to reach their potential.

Chelsea have had their worst season in two decades, Manchester United have regressed, Liverpool are once again in transition and Manchester City have failed to turn their expensively-assembled cast of individual stars into a team capable of challenging for the league.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have come up short despite seemingly possessing all of the ingredients for a sustained title tilt.

An interesting statistic is that Leicester’s current points tally is 77 — and their end-of-season total would be the second-lowest for a champion since 2001 even if they manage to beat both Everton and Chelsea in their two remaining matches — as proof that they benefited from others’ failings.

But there is an alternative interpretation of such a statistic. Rather than showing the division’s weakness this year, perhaps Leicester’s tally is actually evidence of its strength.

While the big clubs have all fallen short for various reasons, there has been a great deal of competitiveness throughout the league.

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It may have become something of a cliché to assert anyone can beat anyone in England’s top flight, but the incoming television deal certainly appears to have levelled the playing field.

Even leaving aside Leicester’s remarkable achievement, West Ham United have exceeded expectations in pushing for the Uefa Champions League and Southampton remain in the mix for a top-six spot, while Crystal Palace will take on Manchester United in the FA Cup final later this month.

Just 45 points separate leaders Leicester from Sunderland in 18th place — by way of comparison, the average equivalent figure for the last four full seasons is 52.75 — with a gap of only 31, the lowest amount since 2010/11, between the top four and bottom four.

There is an argument, then, that Leicester’s accomplishment will be looked back upon in years to come as a turning point rather than a complete and utter anomaly.

Smaller sides who previously thought such feats were beyond their wildest dreams will now believe they too can compete at the top, while the new riches available to every Premier League participant should — in theory at least — make it easier for clubs to build squads and hold onto key players for a longer period of time than before.

Not that money is everything, as Leicester have shown. Ranieri’s side have certainly been fortunate in terms of a lack of injuries, but they have also demonstrated that having deep pockets is not sufficient in itself.

While it is difficult to envisage a Watford or a Bournemouth replicating their success by winning the league next season, there has been enough in the current campaign to suggest that at least some members of the elite could again be usurped if their complacency continues.

On the other hand, Leicester’s shock triumph could serve as a wake-up call for the established top tier teams, who will all not underwhelm to the same extent in 2016/17.

Manchester City should be much improved with Pep Guardiola at the helm, even if a summer overhaul of the playing staff looks likely.

Manchester United would also hope to be in a better position than fifth place in 12 months time, with reports linking three-time Premier League champion Jose Mourinho to the Old Trafford managerial position continuing to linger.

There is little chance of Chelsea being down in mid-table next year, Liverpool will profit from having had a full pre-season under Jurgen Klopp, and Arsenal may finally manage to maintain a challenge at the top all the way until the end of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur, on course for a first top-two finish in over half a century, do not look like going anywhere, either.

“I think it is a one-off,” Martin O’Neill, who won the League Cup as Leicester manager in 1997 and 2000, said this week.

“I think the chances are it won’t happen again — the money in the game now is greater than it’s ever been before.”

Ranieri said something similar on Wednesday, asserting his belief that the status quo would remain intact for the next two decades.

“How many years after Nottingham Forest (in 1977/78) and Blackburn (in 1994/95) has another team won? Next season will be the same, for the next 10 or 20 years will be the same. The richest will win or [the side] who can pick up the best players to make a team.”

There is still hope that Leicester’s success will usher in a new era of equality and unpredictability across the Premier League.

It is an optimistic reading, but what is certainly true is that Ranieri and his players have provided hope and inspiration to those clubs who had grown accustomed to considering particular portions of the table to be no-go zones.

The greatest story ever told, as many have labelled Leicester’s sensational success. The question now is whether or not there will be anything remotely like a sequel.

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