It’s not been a good week for Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City. Losing to Sunderland was painful and then being thrashed 5-0 by Porto was embarrassing, weakened team or not.
Manchester City are having a stuttering time too, and Pep Guardiola seems a little grumpier and more purposely obtuse with each post-match interview.
A little praise is always a tonic and French newspaper L’Equipe have provided it for both clubs.
Over in Portugal, the had been looking forward to welcoming Leicester. More than most countries, they’d followed the club’s Premier League title charge with great interest. Leicester had become a verb, used to describe something plucky and against the odds.
Therefore the team were panned in the aftermath of the match, with quite a few 4/10s being handed out. Unusually, it was even pointed out that the supporters were a disappointment, quiet throughout the game.
So L’Equipe naming Kasper Schmeichel as the best goalkeeper from the Champions League group stages is a nice surprise. Of course, Schmeichel didn’t play on Wednesday, which may have been the start of Ranieri’s side getting hammered.
Manchester City have the most players in the side, joint with Monaco, despite not winning their group. Based on average ratings, all of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Aguero find their way in.
Lionel Messi is easily out in front as the most highly rated player, and following him is Bernando Silva. Still just 22 years of age, Silva is a star of transfer rumours to come.
L’Equipe’s rating system also measures the performance of the teams as a whole and Manchester City are 6th, just ahead of Arsenal.
