So, the day is here, the UCL final, the end of all top-tier European footballing activity for the season comes to a close today. Manchester City and Chelsea have advanced to the Champions League final after overcoming Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in a thrilling sequence of semi-final matches.
The influence that Leicester City has on the competition, on the other hand, may go unnoticed. Leicester failed to qualify for the competition and was eliminated early from the Europa League, so how did they influence the Champions League? So, here's how it's done.
The way Leicester impacted the most was that both sides own two influential players that made their names at the King Power Stadium.
Riyad Mahrez
Man City made their first-ever Champions League final, largely due to Riyad Mahrez's outstanding performance. The Algerian scored three of his team's four goals across the two legs as they advanced to the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain. In Paris, he scored a free-kick to put his team ahead 2-1, and at home, he scored a brace in a 2-0 victory.
The 2015/16 season was the pinnacle of his stint with the Midlands outfit. The winger was nothing short of magnificent throughout their incredible run to the Premier League title, scoring 17 goals and assisting on 11 occasions. This performance earned him the PFA Player of the Year accolade, establishing him as the first African to do so.
A lacklustre follow-up season sparked whispers that he was a one-season miracle, but he debunked those claims in 2017/18, scoring 12 goals and assisting ten. Man City paid £60 million for Mahrez in 2018. He has two Premier League championships, one FA Cup, and three Carabao Cups to his name at the Etihad Stadium. The set will be completed with a win in the Champions League final. Mahrez joined Leicester in January 2014, midway through the team's Championship-winning season. He didn't start making a reputation for himself in English football until well into the next season.
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N’Golo Kante
Kante, like Mahrez, has been the star player for his team in the semi-finals. In both legs of the tie, he was named Man of the Match for his performance in the middle of the park.
Following the great escape from relegation in the 2014/15 season, N’Golo Kante joined the side. He was the club's replacement for departed veteran midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, who had been instrumental in their rescue at the time. He quickly proved to become a more than capable replacement, winning praise for his commanding performances at the centre of the club.
Kante only stayed with the Foxes for one season before joining Chelsea, who had finished tenth in the Premier League. His influence on both teams was palpable. Leicester struggled with relegation before settling in 12th place, while Antonio Conte's Chelsea rose from mid-table to champions, with N'Golo Kante receiving the PFA Player of the Year award.
With the CL final tonight, it will be worthwhile to see how both of them play against one another, with City of course the favourites to win the coveted trophy.
Breakdown and Distribution of Champions League 2020/21 Prize Money
