Talking Tactics: How to stop runaway Leicester

Leicester City’s astonishing campaign has been built on teamwork, energy and fast, effective football.

Performing the basics better than anybody else, rival teams have found the leaders’ momentum incredibly hard to stop, as Manchester City found to their cost in their 3-1 defeat to Claudio Ranieri's side last Saturday.
Ahead of their pivotal visit to Arsenal on Sunday, tactics analyst Adrian Clarke studies their style and provides ideas on how the Foxes might be tamed.

Coping with Vardy

On turnovers and counter-attacks it is clearly not easy to contain a striker as quick and as lethal as Jamie Vardy.

There are several no-nos teams need to be aware of ahead of facing him. Getting too tight to him high up the pitch is one (as Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion found to their cost when he spun in behind to score against them this season) as is a failure to drop off quickly or close gaps between defenders.

Stoke City, Manchester United, Crystal Palace, AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Norwich City all conceded goals, or penalties, after being been caught square with excess space for the striker to sprint into.

Getting "distances" right is paramount when marshalling the livewire Leicester forward.
Gaps between central defenders must not be too far apart, goalkeepers have to be off their line anticipating through-balls, and full-backs need to think harder about their recovery positions in case a transition occurs.

The most important distance to worry about is the space between the last defender and goalkeeper. If it is minimized and there is less empty grass to hit with a long pass, the margin for error shrinks.

When Vardy is lurking, even the quickest defenders have little choice but to drop off early. If a defensive midfielder is not on hand that will make it easy for him to collect passes to feet, but that is the lesser of two evils.
You want the striker playing in front of you, instead of chasing him.

Marking Mahrez

The downside to holding a deep line is that it opens up more space in midfield, and Riyad Mahrez punished Manchester City for that with his brilliant counter-attack goal at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

The winger’s mercurial left boot is also a major threat. Given time to look up and pick his spot the Algerian will produce decisive passes, just as he did with pinpoint assists against Chelsea and Aston Villa. Defenders must get close enough to deny him the luxury of having that time.

Central midfielders need to lend more of a hand. When Arsenal won at the King Power Stadium in September, Santi Cazorla did an outstanding job at providing cover for his full-back on the inside.
Every time Mahrez came in off the wing he seemed to run into the Spaniard, who had left his central post. I am surprised more opponents have not followed suit.
Doubling up on Mahrez, and ensuring he cannot drive inside, is the best way to cope.

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