Claudio Ranieri now odds-on to be next Prem manager to leave
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Claudio Ranieri is now the clear favourite to face the chop next in the Premier League, according to Ladbrokes. Defeat against Swansea City this weekend left Leicester City dangerously close to the drop zone, with just a point separating them in 17th and Hull City in 18th.
And after suffering their fifth league defeat in a row, the Foxes are now 13/8 to go down, while Ranieri now 10/11 to be the next Premier League manager to leave.
The Italian boss received the often dreaded vote of confidence from his board last week, who wanted to make their ‘unwavering support’ absolutely clear in a public announcement last week.
But that may well come back to bite the Premier League champions, with pressure beginning to mount on the 65-year-old.
Yesterday’s Swansea game was one the Foxes really could have done with winning, especially when you look at their upcoming fixtures.
The champions face Liverpool and Arsenal in their next three games, while a meeting with relegation rivals Hull City is sandwiched in the middle.
And they’ll have to balance a fight for survival with an Emirates FA Cup tie against Millwall, as well as a Champions League clash with Sevilla over two legs.
Suffice to say Ranieri has got his work cut out.
Leicester have already lost 11 games more than they managed in their entire 2015-16 campaign, and the worrying thing for the former Chelsea manager is that 10 of the 11 players that started the Swansea game were part of the remarkable title-winning side.
Something isn’t working at the King Power Stadium, with Ranieri still struggling to find a winning formula. In fact, they’ve won just two of their last 16 top-flight matches.
While sides below them are continuing to pick up points, the Foxes are edging closer to the drop zone.
And there’s a good chance they’ll find themselves in a relegation spot the next time they step out in the Premier League. The Emirates FA Cup will take centre stage next weekend, while Leicester will have to travel to Spain for the first of two legs against Sevilla before facing Liverpool two weeks from now.
Meanwhile, every side below them will have almost two weeks off having been knocked out of every cup competition.
That means there’s a possibility the Foxes could be bottom of the league before heading to Anfield.
A horrifying thought for every Leicester fan, but a very realistic one nonetheless.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
