LONDON — Leicester had little to celebrate last Christmas. Languishing in last place in the Premier League, the team was facing instant relegation back to the second tier.
Now Leicester is looking down on everyone.
From propping up the league, Leicester has surged to the pinnacle inside 12 months and rivals are trying to figure out how to replicate their feat. It has not been accomplished by a spending splurge but through astute bargain buys far expecting expectations and a managerial change that had most pundits forecasting a relegation struggle.
The turnaround is as astonishing and unforeseen as Chelsea's collapse from champions to a team now hovering above the relegation zone.