Leicester City stands on the precipice of a historic collapse, facing relegation to League One just a decade after their miraculous Premier League title triumph. The Foxes could see their fate sealed as early as Tuesday night, needing a victory against promotion-chasing Hull City to keep their slim survival hopes alive.
"The belief is still there," said goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. "It's a big game against Hull, and if you win that, things can look a lot different. Of course we need a bit of luck and a bit of fortune on our side, but we keep pushing as much as we can."
This potential demotion would mark one of the most dramatic falls in modern football history. Just seven years after their 5,000-1 Premier League championship in 2016, and only five years following their FA Cup victory, Leicester now faces consecutive relegations that would send them tumbling to the third tier.
The situation grew increasingly tense after Saturday's defeat to relegation rivals Portsmouth left Leicester eight points from safety with only nine points remaining. The mounting frustration boiled over as midfielder Harry Winks engaged in a heated exchange with supporters following the match, highlighting the growing tension between players and fans.
Begovic acknowledged the shared disappointment, stating he "can understand the frustrations" of supporters while emphasizing that players feel similarly about the team's struggles. Despite having one of the Championship's highest wage bills, Leicester has managed just 17 wins across 81 games over two seasons.
Leicester's survival mathematics remain daunting. Even with a victory against Hull, their fate could still be sealed this week depending on results from West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn, and Charlton. Should they somehow navigate through Tuesday's match, they face another critical test against promotion-chasing Millwall on Friday.
This potential relegation would represent Leicester's third demotion in four years, completing a stunning reversal for a club that captured the world's imagination with their underdog championship run. The Foxes now face their most critical week in recent memory, fighting to avoid becoming the first former Premier League champion to drop to England's third division since the league's inception.