What does the fox say?! He says Leicester
First things first. Let's all agree that NO, Hazard did not win it for Leicester. They needed no one throughout this campaign but themselves. They have done it! For the first time in their history and how more meaningful can it be when it's also your manager's first league title at the age of 64!!! Let all your rules fail and fall because football recognizes the passionate dreamers. The foxes are the winners of this year's Barclay's Premier League.
Ahead of all the cash cows and all the big spenders, this 'small' team Leicester came to win the Premier League in a fashion that will be told from generation to generation. The total price of the Leicester lies at 37M and this is the exact same cost of Juan Mata's move to Manchester United from Chelsea. Who would believe that this is the team that fought relegation last season with an incredible come back. With two games in hand, Leicester are now crowned champions and the football world is happy.
This article is not going to be a mention of numbers or a list of factors that contributed to Leicester's win. This article is to celebrate the success of real football. Enough of the commercialization of the game with stupid comparisons and obvious preferential treatment to Europe's elite. Leicester came to remind the world that when you do something with love and heart, you will realize it.
The tears of Ranieri after that Sunderland game was him relizing that the league is close. The man who being called Mr. 2nd place and many other names realized that he is getting justice for himself. He got that justice for his mom who he traveled to see while Chelsea were stopping Tottenham's chase. Tottenham is one of the teams that has spent huge sums buying players and transforming the team especially after cashing in Bale and Modric.
A tweet said “Who the f*** is Mahrez” when Leicester signed him two years ago. Well he did his own response when he won PFA player of the year. Riyad who comes from a poor family told his mom that his talent will make them rich, well guess what, it did. Each goal he scored was celebrated with a Lion's roar. Then comes Vardy who used to leave the pitch before the games ended because of a restraining order. Can you imagine?! Vardy was rated as talent coming down the pipeline for England and for any Premier League team but fate chose him for the Foxes. A man that had no bullshit acts up his sleeve but always finished the ball as it came. He knew where the goal was and knew that every goal he scores is a building block of a dream that a whole city has.
Above all comes a great man called Kante. Rumor has it that the world is 70% covered by water, the rest is covered by Kante. What a man and what a classical box-to-box this player is. He has revived a role that was forgotten since the days of Vieira. Sure Vidal, Yaya Toure and many others are called box-to-box midfielders but remember that they were part of great teams. Kante in one game had 8 interceptions in under 30 minutes. 2 of those interceptions came in the offensive half. Yes, we're sinking into numbers but some are just beyond amazing.
All that being said, we have to be very happy as football fans that Leicester won. No one deserves it more than the club's faithful who were showing up even when the team was in the relegation zone. Pearson started something but his attitude never was a winner's attitude. He let himself drown in excuses instead of drowning in videos and tactical approaches. Pearson had the mindset of a small coach in a 'small' team. Then came Ranieri who no meaningless promises or claimed on being the special one. He came and admitted that work must be done, and set a 40 point target.
The lessons to learn from this season are amazing.
1) Believe in yourself. The whole world will bring you down because they can't help see you succeed while they fail. Let your heart and head be on the same page.
2) Learn how to trust a few people around you who want to see you succeed. They consider this success as their own. They also believe in you.
3) Set targets and work towards them. Life will try to put you off your goals, but stay focussed. You dictate your life and not the other way around.
4) Believe some more in yourself and push harder. Your heart will pump more blood and your passion will now become a source of happiness.
5) You'll start achieving but stay humble and calm.
6) Look up, your goal is not that far away.
7) You make it, and the whole world applauds your success.
Congratulations, you have just pulled a Leicester.
Football will always be above all. The love of the game is what drives us to be crazy. The reason we shout, we cry, we swear and scold. Football is the reason we might be sad or angry but when you win, oh what a great feeling that is.
Believe in the possibility of your dreams because no one else will. Follow your heart and eventually you'll be happy.