TEAM NEWS: Mahrez dropped by Leicester for Chelsea clash

The reigning champions have benched their best player from last season in a bid to beat the 2014-15 title winners in London

Riyad Mahrez has been dropped by Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri for the trip to Chelsea, while John Terry has only made the bench after recovering from strained ankle ligaments.

Mahrez is one of three changes to the Leicester line-up that drew 0-0 with Southampton a fortnight ago, with Danny Simpson and Islam Slimani also being benched.

Time for Conte to unshackle Kante

Claudio Ranieri has replaced the trio with right-back Luis Hernandez, left-midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp and forward Ahmed Musa.

Meanwhile Antonio Conte has resisted throwing Terry back into the mixer upon his return from fitness, sticking with David Luiz, Cesar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill in the centre of defence.

Instead, the only change is an enforced one in attack as Pedro replaces Willian, who's on compassionate leave as his mother passed away this week.

Chelsea XI: Courtois; Moses, Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill, Alonso; Kante, Matic; Hazard, Pedro; Costa.

Subs: Begovic, Aina, Terry, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Batshuayi, Solanke.

More games: friv

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hails 'outstanding' Riyad Mahrez

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has highlighted the significant threat posed by Riyad Mahrez ahead of Saturday's clash with Leicester -- but refused to confirm if he made a move to sign the PFA Player of the Year this summer.

Mahrez, 25, has recently signed a new deal with the Premier League champions after being heavily linked with a move to the Gunners.

Wenger did not discuss whether Mahrez was an Arsenal target, but was more forthcoming about the Algeria international's obvious talent after the winger provided 11 Premier League assists as well as 17 goals last season.

"I don't want to speak about individual players,'' Wenger replied when asked about a potential summer move for Mahrez. "He has been outstanding. If you look at his numbers, certainly he was in the top three in the league last year.

"If you consider the number of goals and assists he had, he had the best combination in the league.''

While Wenger has identified a new defender as his main target before the transfer window closes, a striker also remains on the agenda after the high-profile rejection from Leicester forward Jamie Vardy.

The England international, who finished last season with 24 league goals, had been mulling over an offer to join Arsenal as he linked up with the national squad at Euro 2016 but ultimately decided to remain at the King Power Stadium.

Asked if he was respectful of Vardy's decision, Wenger told BT Sport: "Of course. When you go for somebody you want him to join you but you have to respect the decision, we are all professional people.

"What matters is that once you commit somewhere you give 100 percent, that is what it is to be professional, he has decided to stay at Leicester and I respect that fully.''

Wenger has a number of selection decisions to make ahead of the trip to Leicester, with Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud all having been rested for the 4-3 loss to Liverpool following their Euro 2016 exertions.

Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi must also be replaced in the starting line-up having both been forced off with injuries during the game.

Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Signings Linked to Antonio Conte's Blues

Chelsea are leading the race to sign Leicester City midfielder N’Golo Kante ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season.

That’s according to Matt Law of Daily Telegraph, who wrote that the France midfielder is set to ignore interest from Manchester United and Arsenal to join up with Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.

The likes of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez stole the headlines for Leicester City during their remarkable surge to the Premier League title last season, but Kante was the definition of an unsung hero.

Setting up and scoring goals isn’t what the 25-year-old is on the pitch for. Instead, he strives to regain possession for his team and give other players the chance to shine.

And it’s safe to say he did it brilliantly during his debut campaign in the English top flight. Here’s a reminder of the Kante’s sterling work for Leicester:

It’s little wonder the Frenchman has been compared to a certain Claude Makelele, who essentially invented the role from which Kantehas made a name.

Chelsea have struggled to replace Makelele since he left the club in 2008, but in Kante, they could finally have their man.

It seems he’s keen on heading to the English capital too, as Law said the midfielder is set to snub a new deal at the King Power Stadium worth £100,000 per week.

Kante’s contract has a £20 million release clause inserted in it, yet the Foxes are reportedly only required to accept the highest offer over that figure.

So Conte needs to lay his cards on the table sooner rather than later, as a bidding war with other clubs could see the Frenchman’s value rise to well over £30 million.

Elsewhere, the Blues have started negotiating terms with AC Milangoalkeeper Diego Lopez, per Simon Jones of MailOnline.

Chelsea are looking for a new understudy to Thibaut Courtois, withAsmir Begovic expected to head for the Stamford Bridge exit, and Lopez looks the ideal candidate for the job.

Jones wrote that Chelsea have offered the 34-year-old a three-year deal and that Milan are keen to offload the stopper to cut their wage bill.

Chelsea’s dire display in the 2015/16 Premier League season is much behind them, and it’s an exciting time to be a Blue.

New manager Conte has proved his tactical prowess at UEFA Euro 2016 with Italy, while links to big-name players will boost fans’ hopes for next term.

Chelsea have always had a problem with strength in depth, but with the likes of Kante and Lopez possibly joining the ranks, those issues could become a thing of the past.

Disaster For Leicester As Another Star’s Release Clause Is Set To Be Met

The Leicester City exodus will begin when Jamie Vardy completes his move to Arsenal within the next day or so, and it looks like that won’t be the end of it.

The long term future of N’Golo Kanté has been in serious doubt for some time now, with the player himself extremely non-committal about the prospect of remaining at the King Power Stadium.

Kanté’s stock has risen massively since moving to the Premier League champions in a £5.7m deal last year, going on to earn a nomination for PFA Premier League Player of the Year as well as forcing his way into the international setup and, ultimately, Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2016 squad.

There seems to be a three-way battle between Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain for the French international’s signature, with a release clause of around €25m appealing massively to the trio.

French outlet Le Parisien are today reporting that PSG will look to steal a march on the competition in the coming days and weeks, and are quite prepared to activate Kanté’s release clause in order to secure his signature.

Kanté himself has stated that his future will not be decided until after the European Championships, but he is said to be extremely open to the idea of moving back to his native France.

Leicester are already planning for life without the energetic 25 year old. Nice midfielder Nampalys Mendy was on the club’s radar last summer before they opted for Kanté, and are reportedly turning to the 23 year old once again to fill the gap in midfield.

Having been instrumental in the Leciester’s Premier League title win last season, it would be a shame to see all of Vardy, Kanté and Riyad Mahrez depart the club – especially before they have had a chance to test themselves in the Champions League – but it does look as though Claudio Ranieri is going to have a massive rebuilding job on his hands this summer.

Leicester City players make PFA Team of the Year

Four Leicester City players have been named in the PFA Team of the Year for this season.

Forward pairing Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were both named Credit: PA wire

Forward pairing Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have both made the cut.

The club's summer signing N'Golo Kante and captain Wes Morgan were also unveiled in the list.

Mahrez and Kante have also been nominated for the Player of the Year award, which is announced on Sunday.

PFA Player of the Year News: Leicester believe Riyad Mahrez has scooped top prize

Algerian in the frame after organisers insist he attends ceremony

LEICESTER believe Riyad Mahrez has scooped the PFA Player of the Year award to be announced this weekend.

The Premier League leaders are convinced the Algerian midfielder has won the coveted prize after they were pushed into making special arranagements to ensure he attended Sunday’s awards bash on London.

Mahrez had suggested he may not attend the black-tie ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel because Leicester’s Premier League clash with Swansea would not finish untill just before 6pm.

But the PFA have insisted the 25-year-old turns up, fuelling believe within the King Power Stadium that their man has won.

The personal helicopter belonging to Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is now on stand-by to fly Mahrez down to London along with fellow Foxes nominees Jamie Vardy and N’Golo Kante.

According to The Mail, the trio will be flown to the Battersea heliport before making the short dash north of the river to Park Lane for the dinner.

Leicester’s incredible form this season has already seen four of their players named in the PFA Premier League team of the year.

Mahrez, Vardy and Kante are joined in the all-star XI by captain Wes Morgan with Liecester and title challengers Tottenham both boasting four representitives each.

Riyad Mahrez for player of the year? Pat Nevin fields that one

Plus the ex-Chelsea and Everton winger talks Arsenal character and a weekend of double yellows on Off The Ball.

Pat Nevin thinks Riyad Mahrez is most deserving of winning individual awards at the end of this season as things stand.

The Algeria international has been highly influential as Leicester City have risen to the top of the Premier League, scoring the winner against Watford on Saturday, for a personal haul of 15 goals and 11 assists this season.

And ex-Chelsea and Everton winger, Pat, does not see any players rivalling Mahrez based on the 29 games so far this season.

"I'm struggling to see anyone that's jumping out. I mean Vardy obviously, he's had a good season [and] Harry Kane's coming off a good season as well. There are plenty you could start looking at, but nobody really for me jumping out," he said.  

As for a weekend with players getting needlessly sent off for double yellow cards (Milner, Mata, Coquelin and Mirallas), Pat believes James Milner and Francis Coquelin in particular "should know better" than to make unnecessary tackles when already booked.

This stat proves Riyad Mahrez is Premier League’s Most Valuable Player

Leicester City are still on track to claim the Premier League style in shocking fashion. The Foxes are leading the table after 29 matches, being five points clear of Tottenham.

There’s only one team that didn’t win the English top flight crown in that situation: Arsenal during the 2002/2003 season, meaning Leicester have a pretty good shot.

Jamie Vardy has hit the net 19 times for the Foxes, but the overall feeling is that Riyad Mahrez is their most valuable player. The Algerian has scored four goals less than his partner in crime, but he has also provided 11 assist, second in the league behind only Mesut Ozil.

However, let’s stick to the goals he has scored. There is not one player that has been a club’s match winner this season, as Mahrez has hit the goal that eventually made the difference on six occasions, according toTransfermarkt.

The 25-year-old hit the third goal in a 4-2 win against Sunderland, the second goal in a 2-1 win against West Ham, the first goal in a 3-0 win against Swansea, the second goal in a 2-1 win against Chelsea, the second goal in a 3-1 win against Manchester City and the only goal in a 1-0 win against Watford.

On top, he did it in four different ways: three left-footed shots, one right-footed shot, one header and one penalty.

Vardy and Stoke’s Marco Arnautovic have scored five goals that made the difference, while eight players have scored four, with among them Chelsea’s Diego Costa, City’s Sergio Aguero and Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud.

Vardy & Company bring a bit of anarchy to BPL

For anyone with a little pre-Christmas time on their hands, the top of the Premier League goal-scoring charts makes for some reasonably interesting reading.

As is currently known by every sentient being, on top of the list is Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (15 goals), complete with his historic run of goals in consecutive league games. But second, third and fourth place are where the hopefully interesting trend begins to emerge.

Look carefully and you will note that, like Vardy, none of Romelu Lukaku (12), Riyad Mahrez (11) or Odion Ighalo (10) plays for a club that should really have any business near the top of any kind of table, unless you’re reading it upside-down.

In Watford, Everton and Leicester (twice) the top of the league’s scoring charts hint at the rise of a slightly unfashionable, relatively under-resourced section of clubs across a wider series of Premier League rankings. Vardy and friends top the scoring charts, Leicester regularly tops the league and Bournemouth has just beaten Manchester United and Chelsea in consecutive games. Sixteen rounds into the season and this kind of thing isn’t blip; it’s an explainable symptom of broader moves within the English topflight.

Basically these teams have risen off the back of two positive movements in their favour. There’s the less-than-romantic angle that a boost in television revenue has enabled them to poach top players from other less powerful leagues, simultaneously allowing them access to new potential. This occurs while the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea have not benefitted to the same degree from the cash boost because for them the potential gained from the ability to poach from elsewhere was already in play a long time ago.

Then related to this but ultimately separate is a simpler truth: smaller teams’ success is a symptom of a season where the biggest teams have not yet managed to grasp the limelight for themselves. We have ourselves a kind of Premier League power-vacuum, a swirling, anarchic mess at the top of the table, because up until now none of the teams capable of domination has managed to avoid a mistake for more than a couple of weeks in a row.

Is Manchester City great or terrible? Is Arsenal finally going to do it? Is Manchester United going to get better? Is Liverpool capable of anything more? Is Tottenham? We don’t know these things, at all, because they’ve collectively given very little indication either way. And when they have, they’ve immediately followed it up with something that says the opposite.

And thus we arrive at the really rather enjoyable situation we have now. With the usual suspects still figuring out if they even want to win the league or not, the likes of Vardy, Ighalo, Lukaku and Mahrez seem to have just thought “well, if you’re not going to impose yourselves on the division, do you mind if we do?” The answer from Louis Van Gaal has been something like “yes, we do mind, but we can’t actually do anything to stop you.”

It’s been a pretty enjoyable run to watch, of that there can be no doubt. Variety is always somehow compelling in its own right, but the sense of confusion about who will win each week—or at the end of the season—is the bit to really grasp onto. It shouldn’t have come to this, but simply not knowing what will happen next has turned into a rare thrill, a visceral buzz that we just don’t get access to all that often, and whenever we do have access to it, it’s surely to be savoured.

With the financial dominance of the few only likely to grow in the long term, how often will this exact kind of excitement turn up?

The worry, of course, would be that Manchester City or a team like it might get its act together sooner rather than later this season and put an end to the wild ride sometime in the New Year.

“Everything tends to revert to the mean in the end” and major European football powers tend to win Championships in the second half of the season, when their superior wealth pays off in the form of superior squad depth and experience. In short, dominance always looms large in modern football.

But there is hope for a continuation yet.

While we are used to smaller teams falling away in the second half of seasons (think Southampton, or West Brom, or Newcastle in recent years), one of the core reasons behind that drop-off might not be relevant this time around. With the added cash that gave them a chance in the first place comes the sense that Leicester or Everton or those like them don’t have to sell their best players this January; in fact, with the same cash they might even be able to build on what they already have using their new-found status to add into the bargain.

For now, though, it’s all speculation.

What’s not speculation is that watching Vardy, Lukaku, Ighalo and Mahrez, and their respective teams impose a healthy bit of anarchy on the Premier League has been kind of fun.

Premier League titans roar in boardroom, squeak on pitch

Untold riches will rain down upon the English Premier League in 2016, but for all their resources, the country's leading clubs currently seem incapable of staking claims to the title.

The record £5.14 billion ($7.72 billion, 7.06 billion euros) television rights deal due to kick in next year will reinforce the English top flight's status as European football's financial behemoth.

But champions Chelsea have imploded, Arsenal and Manchester City remain hit-and-miss and while Liverpool find their feet under Jurgen Klopp, Manchester United appear to be stagnating under Louis van Gaal.

It has fallen to Leicester City to make the early running in what former United captain Gary Neville has described as "the most bizarre league that I have seen in a long time".

The year's first financial shockwave arrived in February, when Sky and BT Sport agreed a new domestic TV rights package for 2016-2019 worth 70 percent more than the deal for the previous cycle.

June brought news that record revenues of £3.26 billion for 2013-14 had enabled Premier League clubs to post pre-tax profits of £187 million -- the first since 1999.

Even before the new TV deal takes effect, Premier League sides have been carrying out essential housekeeping -- net debt across the league falling by six percent -- as well as splashing out in the transfer market.

Total spending across the close-season transfer window reached a record £870 million, according to financial analysts Deloitte, and spending for the calendar year pierced the £1 billion barrier.

City led the way, notably shelling out £55 million for Kevin De Bruyne, while United provoked gasps by signing the relatively unheralded Anthony Martial for a fee that could reportedly reach £58 million.

But it was the transfer dealings of the smaller clubs that revealed England's true financial might, from Xherdan Shaqiri leaving Inter Milan for Stoke City to Crystal Palace signing Yohan Cabaye.

All the while, the money continued to flow in -- United embarking upon a £750 million kit deal with Adidas; Chelsea striking a £200 million shirt sponsorship agreement with Yokohama Tyres; a Chinese consortium paying $400 million for a 13 percent stake in City.

'Tip of the iceberg'

The game's current megastars -- Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Luis Suarez -- may play elsewhere, but several Premier League clubs now harbour feasible ambitions of luring them to England.

And with oversights TV rights also due to be renegotiated in 2016, the monster shows no sign of being sated.

"This new English contract will dominate the market," Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge predicted in September.

"We have just seen the tip of the iceberg. The transfer tsunami will increase in strength and height."

But while Europe's major clubs brace themselves for renewed raids from England, the season to date has eloquently demonstrated that money does not solve everything.

Chelsea, champions in May by an eight-point margin, have been sucked into a relegation battle after catastrophically losing nine of their first 16 games, creating a maelstrom of speculation about Jose Mourinho's future.

Doubts persist over Arsenal's backbone in spite of back-to-back FA Cup triumphs, while City have already lost four times in the league, including 4-1 drubbings by Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Van Gaal, meanwhile, is struggling to convince anyone that he is the man to restore United to the heights of the Alex Ferguson era amid reports of player dissent over the 20-time champions' robotic football.

United crashed out of the Champions League in the group phase and although City, Chelsea and Arsenal reached the last 16, there is little faith that England's four-year wait for European glory will end.

Tottenham, Palace, West Ham United, Everton, Stoke and promoted Watford have started the season well, but it is Leicester who have created the sensation.

Dogged and hard-working, Claudio Ranieri's team are the antithesis of Premier League glitz and in Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez they boast an attacking duo who cost just £1.4 million between them.

Leicester City propelled to English Premier League summit by pluck and pizza

To fully appreciate the implausibility of Leicester City's astonishing rise to the top of the Premier League, wind the clock back 12 months.

A year ago, Leicester was at the foot of the table, five points from safety with 10 points from 16 matches and looking a dead cert for an immediate return to the Championship.

Now it is top, with 35 points from 16 games, and making a mockery of preseason odds of 2,000-1 by mounting the most unlikely title challenge in the recent history of the English game.

"It's a magical time," manager Claudio Ranieri said after Tuesday's (AEDT) 2-1 home win over his old club Chelsea.

"We must continue to work hard because I don't want to wake up. I want to continue to dream with our fans."

The victory over Chelsea, courtesy of goals from top scorer Jamie Vardy and Algerian dangerman Riyad Mahrez, typified Leicester's approach.

It is honest, hard-working style has charmed rival fans and journalists alike — "refreshing" was the buzzword on the British sports pages — and its success is also a personal triumph for Ranieri.

Ranieri was derisively labelled 'The Tinkerman' during his four years at Chelsea, due to his habit of rotating his team, and his appointment by Leicester in July following Nigel Pearson's sacking unleashed a tide of mockery.

Former England striker Gary Lineker, probably Leicester's most well-known alumnus, summed up the disdain when he tweeted: "Claudio Ranieri? Really?"

"I had mixed thoughts, to be honest," former Leicester captain Steve Walsh said.

"But he's tinkered about and added some good tactical things, so it's worked out really well."

The genial Italian, 64, has been converting cynics to admirers with each victory, all the while maintaining the irreverent tone that made him a popular figure during his first spell in England between 2000 and 2004.

Continuity the key

Takeaway pizza has become the currency with which he rewards his players for clean sheets, while he cited a song by local rock band Kasabian as the inspiration for the opening-day win over Sunderland.

On the pitch, the indefatigable Vardy and the jinking Mahrez have been symbols of Leicester's revival, with Ranieri's side typically defending deep and springing forward at devastating speed on the break.

Vardy, a $A2.1 million recruit from Fleetwood Town in 2012, has scored 15 league goals, while Mahrez, signed from Le Havre last year for just $A836,000, has 11 goals and seven assists.

Close-season signings such as N'Golo Kante and Christian Fuchs have slotted in seamlessly, but another important factor has been continuity.

Leicester heaved themselves clear of danger last season with seven wins in their last nine games and Ranieri has retained Pearson's back-room staff and kept faith with most of the players he inherited.

He is resolute that neither Vardy nor Mahrez will leave in January, declaring that they "don't have a price", but the club's Thai owners are likely to have their resolve tested in that regard.

Ranieri may not be entirely serious when he says that he is not looking beyond the 40-point margin traditionally required to avoid relegation, but a challenging run of fixtures now awaits.

Leicester has not played any of the current top seven away from home yet and face trips to Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the next month, as well as a visit from Manchester City.

Premier League history carries ominous precedents, with Newcastle United (2001-02), Leeds United (1999-2000) and Aston Villa (1998-99) among the teams to have topped the table at Christmas, only to fall away.

Hull City avoided relegation by a point in 2009 despite having been sixth on December 25, while Blackpool was eighth at the turn of the year in 2010-11, only to go down five months later.

For now, at least, Leicester is on cloud nine and as a lengthening list of vanquished opponents can testify, it looks to be a match for anyone.

Revealed: How Riyad Mahrez went from too small to make it to Premier League's top star

FOR a man who still looks like he is put together from pipe cleaners and was once told he was too frail to make it at the top, Riyad Mahrez might be forgiven for feeling a touch big-headed right now.

His goals, assists and mesmerising skills this season have been every bit as instrumental in Leicester City's astonishing rise to the top of the Premier League as have the exploits of his more celebrated team-mate Jamie Vardy.

But standing in the tunnel after his masterclass against Chelsea on Monday night as captain Wes Morgan fielded a question as to whether Mahrez was currently the best player in the Premier League, there was no sign of it, just a slightly embarrassed smile.

Claudio Ranieri lumped Mahrez, 24, together with Vardy describing them as not for sale after their 2-1 victory over Chelsea. "They are without a price," he said.

The statistics for Mahrez's season to date certainly make a compelling case to suggest he might just be the best operator seen so far (Morgan, for his part, said it was hard to argue with the suggestion) with 11 goals, seven assists, and the current crown as the league's most effective dribbler.

Whatever the passing and shooting stats suggest no one is going to compete with the pound-for-pound value he has provided, having been signed by Leicester from French second division side Le Havre in 2014 for a basement price of £350,000.

Ever since that day he has made rapid strides including making his international debut in the World Cup.

Mahrez describes his upbringing as modest "not poor" in a north Paris suburb where he played for local side Sarcelles.

What he did always have was determination to move to the next level - a season with Quimper in Brittany, then signing for Le Havre in 2010 were the steps.

Throughout it all he has battled perceptions that he was too slight to make his mark. At Quimper he was described by his then manager as "frail", he was turned down by Lens who thought him to be too weak.

When Leicester City scout Steve Walsh went to Le Havre to watch another winger Ryan Mendes he returned convinced, but not about his initial target, rather Mahrez who had dazzled on the other wing.

Two more trips convinced him that he had spotted a gem.

Nothing the Leicester faithful have seen since, either in his debut season in the Championship last year, or in his inaugural steps in the top flight have convinced them otherwise.

When he first arrived he had limited English so team-mates used to get him to repeat questions to Nigel Pearson asking whether the squad could have the afternoon off.

Ritchie De Laet said at the time: "It was all good fun. If we want an extra day off, we tell Riyad what to say. That's always funny. He doesn't know a lot of English so we tell him what to say!"

Such rites of passage worked well and Mahrez has settled well - marrying an Englishwoman this summer and signing a contract extension to 2019. There can be no doubt that players and fans have taken him to their hearts.

On Monday night, Mahrez was superb. His left foot, described by one of his former coaches at Sarcelles as "like a hand" could not have placed the ball in Thibaut Courtois's goal any more accurately for Leicester's second.

Keeping hold of him will be their greatest challenge, not in January but at the end of the season.

Team-mate Marc Albrighton is well aware that bigger teams will come looking and accepted that the reality for both him and Vardy.

"Their dream must be to play for one of the biggest teams in Europe - every player's is," he said. "But why would you want to leave this club at the moment? We are building something special as a top four team and they are a massive part of this."

Vardy had the accolade of a packet of crisps - Vardy Salted - produced for fans as a thank you from sponsors Walkers to mark his record-breaking achievement of scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches and his call up to England.

Apparently there are no such plans for any more but if Mahrez carries Leicester into the Champions' League berth - and no team leading at this point of the season has ever fallen lower than fourth - a second production run surely beckons.

Riyad Mahrez: “We will not win the English Premier League”

Even after Leicester City’s brilliant win against Chelsea in the English Premier League, the club’s manager and players still believe that they will not win the league’s title and that the club does not have the sufficient “maturity” to maintain his actual position until the end of the season.

Riyad Mahrez is one of the club’s most valuable players. The Algerian star scored 11 goals and made 7 assists this season in the English Premier League.

However, Mahrez said today to the press: “I don’t think that we’ll win the English Premier League. We don’t have enough capabilities to do it. Actually, we’re on top of the league’s table but this doesn’t mean anything. The big clubs will make a reaction at a certain time”.