The time for talking is over, the time for crowing has only just begun. Leicester City have proved themselves the cream of the Championship and done so with a game to spare.
Enzo Maresca’s man claimed the title with a resounding 3-0 victory at Preston North End on Monday to secure a return to the Premier League and leave their promotion rivals Ipswich Town and Leeds United sweating on the final automatic place.
Ipswich seem to have a grip on that too after their 2-1 win at Coventry City on Tuesday evening put them three points clear of the Elland Road outfit and requiring just one more – at home to all but relegated Huddersfield Town – to join City in the top flight.
The Foxes have no such last-minute worries, they’ll take on Blackburn Rovers looking for the win that will take them to 100 points, a total that seemed to be a sinecure in the first half of the season – yet one which looked overly ambitious when they stated to wobble.
That was in March and April when they lost four league matches and saw their double-digit lead completely eroded. A 3-1 loss at Leeds at the end of February had many wondering if the Foxes would be caught.
Certainly that was the mood in the immediate aftermath of the game when Wout Faes’ opener was cancelled out by his own goal with only seven minutes remaining. Daniel Farke’s side went on to plunder further late goals from Connor Roberts and Patrick Bamford.
All of which left Geoginio Rutter to deliver his post-match interview in which he declared: “We are the best team, I think.”
He who laughs last and all that. Subsequent events have proved that to be a false boast and City hero Stephy Mavididi, whose brilliance cutting in from the left wing on to his right foot has been an abiding characteristic of this season, has not let Rutter’s comments slide.
The 25-year-old took to social media to post a clip of him brushing his teeth superimposed over Rutter’s premature claim. Sometimes not even words are needed.
