4 Truths: Kasper Schmeichel one of Europe’s best, Leicester City are back
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ByEurosport
Updated 15/03/2017 at 08:11 GMT
Four truths from an incredible night of Champions League football that saw Leicester City write more history.
Leicester City's Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (C), Leicester City's English-born Jamaican defender Wes Morgan (R) and Leicester City's Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (L)
Image credit: AFP
Kasper Schmeichel is one of Europe’s top keepers
It is hard to think of a weakness in Kasper Schmeichel’s game. It goes without saying that he is a supreme shot stopper but his all-round game is also pretty spotless. He has presence, commands his area and is the man for the big occasion.
He followed up a sensational showing in the first leg against Sevilla with another standout performance on Tuesday. With the relative paucity of elite-level keepers around, Leicester will do very well to hold on to their number one come the summer.
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Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel celebrates with Wes Morgan
Image credit: Reuters
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Leicester City are back
The spike in performance since the appointment of Craig Shakespeare is a damning indictment of this Leicester squad. However, football is a notoriously fickle sport and the fans of the club will likely care little now that Leicester are back to their best. And back to their best they are.
They were utterly superb against Sevilla and on that sort of form, with that sort of desire, Europe’s elite clubs will be looking to avoid them. They are perfectly set up to frustrate and then hit expansive, ball-playing sides on the break. Or, in other words, they are perfectly set up to face the other teams left in the competition.
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Leicester defender Wes Morgan (2L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with Riyad Mahrez (L), Jamie Vardy (2R) and Shinji Okazaki
Image credit: AFP
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Claudio Ranieri lost the dressing room
The official line might be that he did not lose the dressing room. However, actions speak louder than words and it is patently clear that this squad is playing for Craig Shakespeare. Shakespeare has changed little since his appointment but they are a side transformed under their new boss.
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Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri, Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and players with the trophy
Image credit: Reuters
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Juventus could go all the way
Real Madrid have struggled in recent weeks; Barcelona have been a shambles at times, Bayern Munich do not have the same verve under Carlo Ancelotti, Dortmund are 16 points off the pace in the Bundesliga and Leicester will surely plateau.
Of the teams that have qualified for the quarters, Juventus look the best equipped to go on and win the trophy. They are probably the best unit left in the tournament, are serial winners and will likely have another Scudetto all-but won by the time the quarters come round.
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Paulo Dybala celebrates Juventus' only goal of the night.
Image credit: AFP
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