Leicester return to where their real Power lies – expect a gallop

All clubs have them now, their ambassadors, legends, official hand-shakers on matchdays, and Leicester City are no different. Their copyrighted cheerleader is Alan Birchenall, most famous for his 1975 kiss on the lips of the great Tony Currie of Sheffield United.

Birchenall played for Leicester for six years in the 70s but is almost as equally well-known today for his pre-match rousing at the strangely but appropriately named King Power stadium – strange but appropriate in the sense that it is a corporate branding exercise that co-incides with the whole Richard III resurrection story in Leicester.

Close to kick-off Birchenall stands in the centre circle and roars as the Post Horn Gallop is sounded on a bugle – a nod to the Foxes – and as he says: “The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.”

Birchenall also says that Leicester players tell him the pre-match introduction is "brilliant" and in the foreword to a new book, The Unbelievables: The Remarkable Rise of Leicester City, Birchenall adds: "They say new stadiums don't create atmosphere. Visiting managers and coaches tell me the King Power has the best atmosphere in football."

Leicester City go back there today, back home. They do so as champions of England. It is worth repeating: Leicester City return home as champions of England.

They do so in the knowledge that if they are to mount a stern defence of their historic title, Leicester will have to ensure their King Power ground retains the motivational energy that Birchenall describes. It is no myth: those Foxes lost just once at home last season.

That form gave Claudio Ranieri’s team the best home record in the division. Away from the River Soar they were pretty handy too.

Fast rhythm

That the one home defeat was to Arsenal, today's opponents, is another element in a televised tea-time fixture that is part of a season that already feels as if it has a fast rhythm. The pace is such that already we need reminding that this is first versus second from last season's Premier League.

The most relevant statistic is that Leicester City finished 10 points ahead of Arsenal, something few foresaw on Saturday 26th September 2015.

Leicester did score twice that afternoon; it’s just Arsenal scored five, Alexis Sánchez getting a hat-trick. One report offered the possibility of Leicester “sliding down the table” from this day forth.

The report’s tone was a confirmation of doubt. It was the seventh game of the season and while Leicester’s unbeaten start was inspiring curiosity, it was still then viewed in the context of the previous spring’s survival – the Great Escape.

Then there was Ranieri; he was still inhabiting the cusp of scepticism, doubters awaiting a tailing off. The Tinkerman would panic, surely. Leicester City in the top half? People scoffed.

It did not work out like that of course. This defeat left the Foxes sixth in the table, Arsenal fourth, but the next Saturday Leicester went to Norwich and won 2-1. One defeat had not become two.

"This is a great moment for Ranieri," David Bevan, author – and Leicester fan – writes in The Unbelievables, a joyous, engrossing gallop through a unique season.

The Italian had tinkered. He dropped Riyad Mahrez, until then the stand-out performer.

Without Mahrez, Leicester still won. Jamie Vardy scored from a penalty-kick awarded after a breakaway move that we would come to call a Leicester City trademark.

Mahrez and Vardy, the surnames that would come to decorate the Premier League season. Mahrez and Vardy, the players Arsenal would try to sign when the season was over.

Imagine if Arsenal had succeeded? Imagine Vardy and Mahrez turning up at the King Power stadium with a cannon on their jersey? This game would feel altogether different.

Freshness

When we think of team-building, we dwell on acquisitions. Which is what Arsène Wenger was doing when approaching Vardy and Mahrez. The pair would give Arsenal speed, agility and freshness they lack.

But team-building is also about retention, which is what Ranieri has been focusing on by keeping Mahrez and Vardy in Foxes blue.

Ranieri had seen another of his top men depart. N’Golo Kante left for Chelsea and had either Vardy or Mahrez – or both – followed Kante out, then Leicester would have looked shredded.

As it is, Vardy signed a new contract in June that lasts until 2020 and, with even better timing, Mahrez agreed to stay on Wednesday, also to 2020 (though we’ll see about that).

Against Arsenal, we can expect both players to be animated. Ranieri has spoken of Mahrez’s new “freedom”.

It will be ushered in by Birchenall and a bugle. Leicester City may have lost oddly at Hull on the opening day, but they are back where their power lies. Expect a gallop.