Leicester City wins first Premier League as Spurs and Chelsea held for 2-2 draw
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
On Monday, Leicester-based football club Leicester City secured their first Premier League title as London-based clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur drew 2–2 at Stamford Bridge.
Leicester City played 36 matches and collected 77 points. On Sunday, they drew 1–1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford. But Monday’s draw eliminated the mathematical possibility of Spurs equalling the point tally of The Foxes with only two matches to play and a lead of seven points.
Leicester lost only three times in those 36 matches, once against Liverpool and twice against Arsenal. Since November 21, after a 3–0 victory against Newcastle United, The Foxes have stayed at first position in the League table.
| The players have been fantastic. Their focus, their determination, their spirit has made this possible. | ||
The Foxes were seen as underdogs at the beginning of the season as they managed to escape relegation in the 2014–2015 season where they needed 21 points from their last nine matches. Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy were key players on Claudio Ranieri’s team. Vardy netted 22 goals in 34 appearances in League matches — including goals in 11 matches consecutively, a League record. While Riyad Mahrez won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award last week, Jamie Vardy was voted the footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association.
Manager Claudio Ranieri was full of praise for his team’s togetherness and diligence over the course of the season. “The players have been fantastic. Their focus, their determination, their spirit has made this possible. Every game they fight for each other and I love to see this in my players. They deserve to be champions.”
The League trophy is to be presented to The Foxes after their upcoming game against Everton. They also qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in the club’s 132-year history.