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Leicester collapse a disgrace, says Sunday Supplement panellist Steve Bates

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Steve Bates feels Leicester’s form this season has been disgraceful

Leicester's collapse from Premier League champions to relegation contenders has been disgraceful, according to Sunday Supplement panellist Steve Bates.

Claudio Ranieri's side were knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier Millwall on Saturday, losing 1-0 despite playing much of the second half at The Den with a man advantage.

They have lost five straight games in the league without scoring a goal and sit 17th in the table, one point above the relegation zone.

Claudio Ranieri (L) and Jamie Vardy
Image: Jamie Vardy has scored five Premier League goals this season

Bates, the chief football writer for the Sunday People, believes the club is stuck in the past and has not moved on from last season's remarkable title-winning campaign.

"Leicester are in free-fall," Bates told the Sunday Supplement. "They are a disgrace really. I think they're shocking. To have fallen so far from where they were a year ago is just indefensible.

"Manchester United and Chelsea both won titles and then finished seventh and 10th respectively so it can happen. But the way Leicester have collapsed is just shameful.

"The players need to look at themselves, the manager also needs to take a look at himself. I am seriously thinking should Claudio Ranieri keep his job?

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"People say it would spoil the fairy-tale of last season but that's gone and that's the problem with Leicester. They can't move on. They are still stuck in last season.

"You go to their ground for a matchday and you see all those BMW cars the chairman gave them. It's a visible symbol of that title-winning side."

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Claudio Ranieri, Manager of Leicester City looks dejected during The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Millwall and
Image: Claudio Ranieri is under pressure at Leicester, who are one point above the relegation zone

Many of Leicester's title-winners have failed to live up to last season's success and the Daily Telegraph's chief football correspondent Jason Burt thinks they need to start taking responsibility for their performances.

"What's fascinating about it is this is a group of players are used to being down there and fighting for survival," Burt said. "You would expect that mode to kick back in and it hasn't.

"They have been doing a lap of honour all season and that's been the problem. There comes a point where you have to draw a line in the sand but once they reach that point, they go further.

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"You can look at it harshly and say this is a group of journeymen players that had a one-off season, the most extraordinary season ever, and now they've gone back to type.

"What you would have hoped was this was a group of players who have been underappreciated and overlooked and had got to the level they needed to be at and then were going to maintain that going forward.

"I didn't expect them to finish top four, but you'd expect them to finish 10th and have a stab in the Champions League, which they have done. The problem with footballers, without being too critical, is they don't take responsibility at times.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18:  Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City arrives at the stadium prior to The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Millwall and L
Image: Riyad Mahrez has struggled to replicate last season's form

"They will look for excuses to blame other people for what's gone wrong."

Bates added: "So many things have gone wrong. All their top players - Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy - their defence has been appalling - Robert Huth, Wes Morgan - they have been absolutely shocking.

"I was not at all surprised to see them lose at Millwall and for Millwall to win it with 10 men just sums it up."

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