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Spurs’ Pochettino Says Vardy Ban Will Impact Leicester

By Alexander Balano

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur gives instructions during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on February 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur gives instructions during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City at White Hart Lane on February 28, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, believes that Jamie Vardy’s two-match ban will have a big impact on Leicester City’s title run-in. However, it might not be enough still.

By now, everyone has had their say on Jamie Vardy’s two-match suspension yesterday prior to Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion’s match kicking off. And it’s nearly unanimous for everyone, maybe except Leicester City though, that Vardy missing two games will impact the Foxes’ title-run.

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That’s not to say that Leicester aren’t capable of picking up six points against Swansea City and Manchester United, but these two games which no doubt favored the Foxes aren’t going to be easy now. It’ll be a scrappy battle for two wins.

For as good as Riyad Mahrez has been this season, the Algerian international has benefited greatly when Jamie Vardy is on the pitch to form a formidable one-two punch in Claudio Ranieri’s starting lineup.

Right now, it’s unknown if both Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa could carry Leicester for their upcoming two games in Vardy’s absence, but according to Pochettino, he feels Vardy’s ban will impact Leicester.

“I think that it’s a big impact for Leicester because Vardy is one of the best players in the Premier League. Sure, it’s a big impact for them,” Pochettino said (quotes via Enfield Independent).

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Mauricio Pochettino (C) manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Britannia Stadium on April 18, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – APRIL 18: Mauricio Pochettino (C) manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur at the Britannia Stadium on April 18, 2016 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

“I think Leicester have very good players and are in a position that they deserve to be, this is important, nobody gave nothing for nothing.”

“But he’s one of the best strikers in the Premier League. I am sure they will feel that but they have different players that can play the same way.”

“We are in the race for the title and I, like our supporters, hope Leicester will drop points in the next game so we can erase the gap.”

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While Mauricio Pochettino has a point, that Jamie Vardy being suspended will greatly impact their title run-in, the Argentine manager was quick to point out that they have other players who can help out. Namely, Shinji Okazaki, Leonardo Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez.

So although it’s easy to think that without Vardy, Leicester will just lose two games in a row, that’s not likely to happen. And here’s why.

Even when Vardy had a goal drought since the New Year, prior to notching a brace against Sunderland on April 10, the Foxes continued to win in spite of the 29-year-old not scoring goals.

In fact, since January Leicester have won games when Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez weren’t scoring goals. Therefore, Claudio Ranieri’s side will be fine regardless if Vardy was suspended or not.

The only good thing that will come from this two-match ban for the England international is that Vardy was rediscovering his goal scoring form from earlier in the year. Because in back-to-back games against Sunderland and West Ham United, Jamie Vardy had scored three goals.

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And now that he’s gone for two games his form might dip once more which could produce a chance for Spurs to close the gap to two points if Leicester drops points once again against Swansea and Man United.

That’s the only thing that Spurs could take solace in, with regards to Vardy’s suspension. Otherwise they still have to focus on themselves since they must win four more games still to upset the league leaders.

Whereas the Foxes only have to accumulate eight points in the remaining four fixtures to finally clinch the Premier League title.

It’ll be a very close run-in for both clubs no doubt, but the odds of Leicester slipping up without Vardy is still hard to comprehend. It’ll be a bit harder for the Foxes to win is all, but a monumental collapse is unlikely to happen.

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