Fairy tales are great. Mythical stories filled with heroes and villains, they convey a message that gives us something to believe in — something to warm our hearts. Fairy tales can transport us from our normal reality to something far greater.
The 2015-16 Premier League was a fairy tale for Leicester City. Now, it’s back to reality.
It wasn’t all that long ago that the Foxes were fighting for Premier League survival and coached by ostrich aficionado Nigel Pearson. Then the club were transformed by the tactics of Claudio Ranieri and the incredible play of previously unknown talents such as Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante. The result was perhaps the most unlikely championship season in sports history.
Ever since Leicester lifted the trophy in May, the question on everyone’s mind is can they keep this up?
The answer is no.
It wasn't the start Leicester City wanted. Photo: @premierleague | Twitter
Although supporters will be happy to see Vardy and Mahrez still at the club, losing Kante to Chelsea is a major loss in the midfield. It certainly showed in Leicester’s opening day loss, at home, to Hull City.
Freaking HULL CITY!!!
Yes, that Hull City that was just promoted through a playoff. Yes, that Hull City that has had a tumultuous summer with questions swirling around new ownership. Yes, that Hull City that even manager Steve Bruce, who guided the club back to the big time, resigned only a few weeks ago because he couldn’t take the chaos anymore.
Oh, and they haven’t even hired a full time replacement yet!
That’s the Hull City that beat the defending Premier League champions 2-1 to kickoff the 2016-17 season. Maybe it’s just a blip for the Foxes, or perhaps it’s a bit more ominous. They are the first defending champions to lose their season opener since 1989. Even Chelsea managed a draw to begin last season, and we all know what a train wreck that turned into.
It won’t get any easier for Leicester City, who will try to get things back on track this weekend against Arsenal. Maybe it isn’t too late for Leicester’s new fans to hop on the Hull City bandwagon?