Premier League leaders Leicester will overcome nerves to see off Swansea, says Jamie Redknapp
Sunday 24 April 2016 15:16, UK
Leicester's nerves will be jangling but, despite Jamie Vardy's suspension, they will find a way to claim three points against Swansea, says Jamie Redknapp...
Leicester are in unchartered territory.
Jamie Vardy has been their top scorer and their talisman this season. He's played every league game and fired them to the top of the table with 22 goals. His suspension for this weekend's game with Swansea is a massive blow.
And the truth is, we don't know how Leicester are going to adjust.
Their ability to soak up pressure and hit teams on the break is something they've mastered this year. And he's been central to that success, with his pace unsettling the opposition.
Boss Claudio Ranieri has options. He could bring in Jeff Schlupp or the pacey Demarai Gray. Or he could play Leonardo Ulloa or even Riyad Mahrez off Shinji Okazaki.
But whoever he picks, it may be that Leicester need to play a bit more football on Sunday and move up the pitch in stages, rather than in the direct way they have previously. They might have to be a little bit more patient in their build-up.
But it's not the end of the world for them. Vardy's been playing so well but I still think it's something they can cope with for this Swansea game.
They will miss him more for the away game at Manchester United, should his ban be extended, because it's in those games where he's been so effective on the break.
Vardy's suspension follows Leicester's dramatic 2-2 draw with West Ham. After five straight wins, we can't say that result is a blip. But it's a nerve-jangler. It's like in the Grand National when a horse is going well and then it hits a fence. You don't know how the horse is going to react when they get to the next fence.
This is life-changing. This is history in the making. How can Leicester's players not be nervous? I'm nervous for them!
What will the reaction be from Leicester this weekend? I keep hearing people say: "What have they got to be nervous about because they've already achieved so much." But of course they're going to be nervous. This is life-changing. This is history in the making. How can they not be nervous? I'm nervous for them!
If they don't win the league from here, they'll regret it forever because a lot of these players will never get the chance to win the Premier League again.
Tottenham, on the other hand, look like they could play forever. They look like they could wipe the floor with every team they play at the moment - and that's the scary part of it for Leicester.
Spurs are breathing down their necks and Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele and Toby Alderweireld are playing like it's August and they're full of energy. They look like they're enjoying the chase.
That makes Ranieri's job very important but, like his players, we don't know how he's going to react to this situation, either. He's never won a top-flight title before. It's not like Sir Alex Ferguson when he was playing mind games.
Ranieri deep down must be thinking: "I've always been a nearly man. This is my chance to ram it down the throat of everyone who said I wasn't a good manager." This is his opportunity and that brings nerves and pressure.
It's not just the whole country focussing on this - sports fans across the world are talking about this. It's unprecedented. And while the Leicester coaching staff will try to keep training fun and fresh this week, when the players go home and turn on Sky Sports News or pick up a paper, they'll start feeling the pressure.
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They can't hide from the enormity of what they're doing.
And they can't hide from the fact they need to bounce back from that West Ham result with a statement against Swansea. Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea follow for Leicester. Tricky tests.
If they don't win this one, I'd make Tottenham favourites for the title. That's how much is riding on it.
Swansea got beaten 3-0 last week and they can't be as bad as that again, and the Vardy suspension is terrible timing. But I think Leicester will come up with the response they need.
Watch Leicester v Swansea live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 4pm on Sunday
