The Sunday News
CHAMPIONS Leicester comfortably beat Everton before being presented with the Premier League trophy during a day of celebrations at the King Power Stadium.
Jamie Vardy scored twice but missed out on a hat-trick by blazing a second penalty over the bar.
City’s longest-serving player Andy King was also on the score-sheet with Kevin Mirallas netting Everton’s consolation.
But this was almost a sideshow to the festivities for the Foxes’ first top-flight title in their 132-year history.
The celebrations included a pre-match performance from Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in front of a sold-out stadium bedecked in banners declaring the club’s new status as champions of England.
And then, once the game had finished, came the moment all connected with the club had been waiting for – the lifting of the Premier League trophy.
It was held aloft by captain Wes Morgan and manager Claudio Ranieri to a rapturous response from those inside the King Power Stadium and thousands more who had gathered outside the ground.
Saturday afternoon was billed as a title party, but for most inside the stadium the celebrations have been ongoing since Tottenham’s draw at Chelsea confirmed the Foxes as the most remarkable of Premier League winners.
The City players themselves only returned to training for this fixture on Thursday after being given an extra day off to revel in their stunning triumph and presumably to fully recover from a rowdy Monday night at Jamie Vardy’s house.
From the moment they emerged for their pre-match warm-up, they were cheered to the rafters by supporters who had begun to mass in the stadium hours earlier to enjoy a beer on the club and revel in its greatest moment. So keen were the home fans to show their appreciation to Ranieri and his side that the Italian was forced to quieten them for the performance of Nessun Dorma by compatriot Bocelli, who received a huge ovation when he removed his tracksuit top to reveal a Leicester shirt beneath bearing his name.
But despite the carnival atmosphere and a guard of honour from their opponents there was no complacency from the Foxes, who provided a fast-paced and committed finale befitting the side with the best home record in the division. — BBC Sport
