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Leicester's 'bonkers' season a perfect storm of schmaltz and mystery

A man cycles past an advert on a bus stop in Leicester, Britain April 21, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Staples (Reuters)

“It's bonkers," admitted Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater.

“It's hard to put into words."

It's hard to put the club's inexplicable Premier League triumph into anything.

The story doesn't add up. The numbers don't make sense. Your head hurts from thinking about it too much. But still, everyone has an opinion on how the nondescript, east Midlands side have managed it.

The city's motto is Semper Eadem, Latin for 'always the same'. And there's a neat metaphor in there. Things like this aren't supposed to happen. Like the lottery winner from the council estate or the unlikely lad from the small village that goes on to fame and fortune. Some things are supposed to just exist in the humdrum – happy to just be. Happy with a small, manageable, nonplussed, controlled and consistent life.

In recent weeks, as the Leicester story has gathered international momentum, camera crews and journalists have flocked to the city to try and understand it better, to try and find an answer for how this has all unfolded. They all returned home dissatisfied. Even the locals, the diehards, the seasoned supporters couldn't explain.

It said much that even in the aftermath of Tottenham's draw with Chelsea on Monday night – the result which ensured Leicester the championship, a flustered SportsCenter reporter was caught out on ESPN.

Over the celebratory scenes of delirious Leicester fans drinking in the moment, poor Matt Barrie struggled to comprehend what had happened.

“This is the reaction today when Tottenham won the EPL”, he dramatically exclaimed.

Though it was a simple error and Barrie apologized later on, it only seemed to add to the surreal nature of the narrative and, in a way, hark back to the past.

There's the beautiful myth about when the United States famously beat England at the 1950 World Cup and British newspapers just presumed it was an error so they published the game as having finished 10-1 to the English.

The big difference, of course, is that this is no fluke. Leicester have proven relentless over an entire season. This wasn't just a one-off game or a tournament or a final. Over 38 games, there are no easy draws. There are no penalty shoot-outs. There is no game-changing refereeing decision. You dust yourself down and go again. Until the games run out.

And that's why it's so difficult to contextualize Leicester's success. Last season, they were bottom of the table with seven fixtures remaining. They won five and drew once to finish in 14th place. They went against history. They went against the numbers. They went against the norm. They should've gone down but somehow they survived. And that, really, was their lot. That was where Leicester's level was – keeping their heads above water and surviving. Just about. That was success for them.

And that made sense statistically and economically. It was understandable that they managed to scrap their way right to the end.

This season? Nothing has made sense.

Many have tried to unravel the mystery. Some have suggested the club's scouting system has been the difference, that they've recruited exceptionally well. For others, it's the team chemistry that has set them apart. And perhaps another reason, others have suggested, is Claudio Ranieri - a mild-mannered, calm and considered coach - the perfect man to keep the players' emotions in check.

The truth is more grey. It's relatively intangible. And as much as all of the above is true, it's still not enough. Leicester, effectively, have found themselves caught in a perfect storm and aren't the only ones either.

The Premier League teams at the top of the table have regressed substantially in comparison to last term. Chelsea, last year's champions, are the best example of that but certainly the worst-case scenario. Their drop-off cost them a manager and European qualification.

Elsewhere, it's been a common trend though may not be as noticeable.

For Manchester City, last season's runners-up, the best they can hope for this term is a points tally of 70 - that's nine less than their 2015 total. Their chances of a title ended when it was revealed Pep Guardiola would be replacing Manuel Pellegrini this summer.

Arsenal and Manchester United have stagnated amid varying degrees of internal chaos, Liverpool - transitioning under Jurgen Klopp - have experienced inevitable teething problems. And the mid-table sides have failed to push on too. Southampton, Stoke and Everton are drifting, though the Saints are the best of the rest.    

Yes, Leicester have blitzed everyone around them (currently 36 points better off than at the end of last season - a record since three points were awarded for a win in 1981) but it's certainly no coincidence that their closest challengers - Tottenham - have conjured something remarkable too.

Mauricio Pochettino's side could finish the campaign on 76 points - that would be a 12-point increase on last season.

But West Ham, under Slaven Bilic, have risen from the ashes and they've already broken their own Premier League record for points accrued in a season, with three fixtures left.

So, while Leicester have been so much better than last term, others have been alarmingly poor in comparison. The Foxes, and others, have been able to take full advantage of high-profile sides' various slumps.

Leicester have also played less games. They've been involved in just 41 fixtures - 36 of those in the Premier League. There has been no European football to worry about and early elimination in both domestic competitions.

To put that in context, Spurs have played ten more.        

It was so surprise that, when fixtures started to come thick and fast at Christmas, Leicester struggled to maintain their blistering form. They lost to Liverpool on Boxing Day and drew against Manchester City and Bournemouth. Playing three games in a week, they failed to win once.

Getting beaten by Spurs in a Cup replay in late January proved a turning point. Ever since, they've lost just once.

At key intervals, they benefitted enormously from time off. Following that potentially-devastating 2-1 loss away to Arsenal, they had two weeks to recover, refocus and plan for their next game against Norwich.

They won.

It certainly goes some way to explaining how Leicester's core group has been involved in so many games. Matches, much more than training, result in injuries. The more games you play, the more susceptible you become to picking up a knock. By keeping fixtures at a minimum, the threat of injury is greatly reduced.

By staying together on the pitch, Leicester built up a dynamic, an on-field rapport that has fueled an infectious team spirit. By keeping a small squad, Ranieri has also been able to avoid having to rotate and keep fringe players onside. Ultimately, there has been a distinct lack of tantrums and off-field trauma.

Some players certainly have stepped up and delivered incredibly. Though Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez are the obvious choices, N'Golo Kante has epitomized what the side have been about: simple, effective and a workhorse.

It's well-documented at this stage that from 20 Premier League teams, Leicester are ranked 18th in terms of possession. Their 70 per cent pass success rate is the worst in the league. They're 13th when it comes to shots on goal.

But, they are top when it comes to interceptions. And Kante is the best in the league for it, making 4.2 per game. He's ranked first for tackles made too.

He cost them a small fortune when he joined last summer - $8.1m - but he's the gem and the best example of Leicester's forays into the transfer market. Both Mahrez and Vardy arrived when the side were still in the Championship and when the risk was lower.

Writing in The Players' Tribune last month, Ranieri closed with the following statement:

"What do you need to arrive? A big name. No. A big contract. No. You just need to keep an open mind, an open heart, a full battery and run free."

It's a bit schmaltzy and a bit incomprehensible.

Just like Leicester, as it happens.