A look at Danny Drinkwater’s majestic midfield display for Leicester City against Sevilla

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What a night for Leicester City Football Club.

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In yet another enthralling chapter in the recent history of the club, the whole footballing world put their allegiances aside – unless you’re a Sevilla fan, of course – and willed the Foxes to victory on a historical and monumental night of Champions League football that defied expectations.

This was no easy feat, it’s necessary to point out, as despite Jamie Vardy’s late away goal in Seville three weeks ago Leicester’s opponents have won the Europa League for three seasons on the bounce.

Yet, just less than a month after the sacking of Claudio Ranieri, Wes Morgan and co. put in one of their finest performances to beat the Spanish giants and secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League – something even Leicester fans could only have dreamt of hearing a year ago.

Although Wes Morgan put in a true captain’s performance in defence, and Vardy ran himself in to the ground at the other end of the pitch, Danny Drinkwater was a man who stood head and shoulders above everyone else on Tuesday night in the epitome of a fantastic, battling box-to-box midfield display.

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Recently rejuvenated after his stunning goal against Liverpool, the 27-year-old showed all of his past experience and showed why he was called up to the England national side last season, dominating the likes of Steven N’Zonzi and Vicente Iborra in the middle of the park from the very first whistle.

His defensive efforts throughout were admirable, particularly early in the second half when Sevilla put Leicester under intense pressure, but Drinkwater stood firm, winning 100% of his aerial duels all match as well as 100% of his attempted tackles, breaking up the visitor’s attacks timely. He also made nine clearances – the second most out of anyone in the Leicester side – on top of making two key interceptions; the amount he committed to defence was almost as if he was playing at centre-back.

Yet not only was the England midfielder so calm and composed in defence, he was also masterful whenever Leicester were out of their defensive third of the field; Drinkwater completed 74% of his passes to help ease the pressure on the likes of Morgan, Robert Huth and Kasper Schmeichel at the back.

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Although Morgan will take the plaudits – and deservedly so – for a stirring display of leadership from the back, Drinkwater also deserves credit where it’s due for keeping Leicester’s midfield so narrow and compact for the second 45 minutes, pressing Sevilla into uncharacteristic errors and rushing their play when in possession; this level of intensity helped turn over the ball which lead to Marc Albrighton’s strike.

On a night at the King Power Stadium that will live long in the memory of most English football supporters, let alone Foxes’ fans, although Drinkwater was sublime all evening it seems unfair to single out one Leicester player – the whole squad fought for the victory, and were good value for their win too.

Now it’s all eyes on the draw for the quarter-finals on Friday – do Leicester fear anyone? Probably not.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Alex Hannam.