Leicester in ‘serious danger’ of being relegated as they lack the togetherness of the ‘Fearless Foxes’ of the last two seasons, says former star Mark Schwarzer

MARK SCHWARZER reckons Leicester are in serious danger of being relegated because they lack the togetherness of the 'Fearless Foxes' who avoided the drop two years ago.

The defending Premier League champions have picked up just five points from their last NINE games and are free-falling quickly towards the Championship.

7

And Schwarzer, part of the Leicester squad for the last two seasons, has warned his old team-mates to halt the slide right now, starting at relegation rivals Swansea today.

Keep up to date with ALL the Leicester City news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary

Schwarzer said: "They have the quality to stay up but you need to have more than that. At the moment they are in serious danger of being relegated."

"Wes (Morgan) and Kasper (Schmeichel) were outspoken after the Manchester United game they have to start turning things around. They need to change things now. Not in a couple of weeks time.

He continued "The talking is over with now and the performances have to do the talking. They can’t play like they did against United and roll over after 1-0 down. If they continue to do that it will be tough for them to stay up."

7

Schwarzer knows only too well how to get out of a relegation scrap having been part of Nigel Pearson's set-up which overturned a five-point deficit at the same point in 2015 to help the Midlands outfit finish the season six points above the drop zone.

So what was the key back then? "How together we were," says Schwarzer, who retired after leaving Leicester last summer. "We were all fighting on the same front. There were no divisions and we were pulling in the same direction."

"There was a huge amount of energy around the club. Everyone thought we can do it and turn things around. Our confidence grew during a run of games in January where we were so close. You need a bit of luck but the belief was there."

"It came from the management and we had faith that things would turn around. The West Brom away game was where the Fearless Foxes started.

"It came from the fans and it was adopted along the way. We gained momentum and had the fighting spirit, the grit, determination and mentality."

7

 

"There's no doubt Leicester have the quality to do the same thing again because they're in nowhere near as bad a position as two years ago."

"They have the experience of what it was like to get out of it. The problem is they are running out of games, they don’t have the same energy.

"They have to make sure they get back to that and get points on the board. But that togetherness seems a contrast to now."

Leicester's fragile plight comes amid talk of dressing room unrest with boss Claudio Ranieri handed the dreaded vote of confidence from the club's Thai owners last week.

Schwarzer added: "It's apparent it has not been rosy behind the scenes and it is concerning. It's clear people aren't happy.

7

It takes strong characters to get people on your side and fight for the right reasons. There can be a lot of things going players upset at not playing, being taken off at certain times, whatever."

"They got into the Champions League so they needed a bigger squad and they are trying to improve as well. But they lost arguably their best player in (N'Golo) Kante."

Schwarzer believes midfield dynamo Kante, who remains top of the pile with leaders Chelsea, symbolised Leicester's spirit.

He added: "I only played a handful of games with him but he played like an extra man in midfield. He had a calmness, but his reading and understanding of the game was brilliant, his athleticism and endurance was fantastic and he was a nice and humble guy."

"But the one thing missing the most is his attitude. He could not do enough for the team.

Leicester's situation has not been helped by Riyad Mahrez's comments yesterday that the star wideman saw the collapse coming.

Schwarzer said: "I'm a little bit surprised. He's been naive in the way he said that and it is a worry that the players feel that way. But it's also a surprise someone else hasn’t notice that such as the management. You have to change the mentality, attitude. "

7

The keeper continued "Maybe some of the players have thought this is just going to happen. But you have to work hard, do all the right things. Reputations mean little and you are only as good as your last game. Last season has gone."
"A lot of people are disappointed they haven't kicked on from where they left off last season. I thought they would be better and more competitive than they have been. It was always going to be a massive challenge because of the sense of expectation because of the success."

"It was an amazing achievement to win but it shows how difficult it is to maintain it."

"Players have come in and struggled to make an impact too. Islam Slimani has been the best buy but he has tailed off and stopped scoring so it's put more pressure on the players from last season."

"The manager has juggled too many things and changed too many things. A big factor in the success was the continuity and using the same 12, 13 players."

7

"But, of course, it is a collective effort and everyone has to pull their weight."

"People have taken their eye off the ball and that’s concerning. For any player it is horrendous to be relegated so they have to regroup."

Ranieri's men face Sevilla in the latter stages of the Champions League with the last-16, first leg tie in Spain fast approaching on February 22.

But ex-Australia goalkeeper Schwarzer reckons his old club should sacrifice Europe for maintaining their top-flight status.

Schwarzer said: "It’s a far bigger priority to stay in the Premier League than progress in the Champions league. 100 per cent. Okay, the Champions League is brilliant but everyone wants to play in the Premier League. Leicester know how difficult it is to get up so I hope the vast majority of the players feel the same way."

7

"The Champions League has been too big a distraction for them. Maybe some of the players saw it as their main goal and the league would take care of itself. "Hopefully they are now realising they could get relegated."

Three points at the Liberty Stadium today will go a long way to ease Leicester's relegation fears - and bag a first away win of the season.

Yet Schwarzer said: "Every game looks difficult at the moment. Contrast that to 12 months ago. We went to Swansea and we felt we had a good chance of winning the game. We tore them apart."

 "This time around, Leicester are going there thinking Swansea on good form and the opposition are different. The roles are reversed. Leicester are down in confidence and form." Down but hopefully not out for the count come what May."