Leicester City are “not a typical newly-promoted team,” according to Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, who insists his side are under less pressure in this season’s Premier League relegation battle.
McKenna pointed to Leicester’s recent success in European competitions, having competed in 2020-21 and 2021-22, as evidence of their pedigree.
He placed Southampton in a similar category, highlighting the Saints’ decade-long Premier League run before their relegation and immediate return from the Championship.
Meanwhile, McKenna’s Ipswich side have returned to the top flight after a 20-year absence.
Despite spending over £100m in the summer, the Tractor Boys are battling to establish themselves in the league. Ipswich currently sit 18th, while Leicester, in their first season back, are four points above the drop zone.
“People who are wiser than me and have been around the league for longer said that they felt that this would be a really, really strong Premier League this season,” McKenna told the East Anglian Daily Times. “I think it’s proved to be that.
“I think there’s probably the least pressure on us. The two teams who came up with us, I’d say, are not typical newly-promoted teams. Leicester were in Europe a couple of seasons ago and Southampton are coming off the back of a decade in the Premier League. And the teams who avoided relegation or finished mid-table last season, in general, invested.
“I see all the teams throughout the division capable of getting points off other teams. We’re in that mix as well. We’ve shown that we can take points off the top teams and we can compete with pretty much everyone.”
The bottom seven teams clashed midweek in pivotal fixtures. Leicester secured a crucial win against West Ham in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s managerial debut, while Crystal Palace edged Ipswich, and Everton dismantled Wolves.
These results leave Leicester as the only unbeaten team in head-to-head games among the bottom seven. From five such matches, they boast two wins, over Southampton and West Ham, and three draws, against Palace, Everton, and Ipswich.
Remaining undefeated in these key fixtures could be pivotal to Leicester’s survival hopes. Their next relegation six-pointer comes at home to Wolves in their final game before Christmas—a match that could further cement their place outside the drop zone.
