An emotional Kelechi Iheanacho hopes Leicester City can rise again after their relegation to the Championship. The striker appeared close to tears as he tried to put into words the emotions around the club’s fall into the second tier, confirmed on the final day of the season. Iheanacho set up Harvey Barnes’ goal in the win over West Ham, but Everton’s victory over Bournemouth meant it wasn’t enough for survival. Relegation brings an end to a golden era for City, who will now strive to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Looking forward is all they can do, Iheanacho believes.
Kelechi Iheanacho said: “I don’t even know how I feel right now. I’m so disappointed. I don’t know what to say. I just need to thank the football club, the fans, everyone who has supported us from the start to now. I know it’s a hard one to take but if life kicks you, you just need to stand up and keep going. Whatever it is, we just keep going, stay strong, and hopefully we get back up. Nobody’s really happy at this time. It’s a bad time for the club and everyone. We need to take it on the chin and move on. It’s really not what we want but we can’t go back now. We have to move forward.”
At full-time, after the squad received news of the club’s relegation, the players did a lap of the centre circle to clap the four stands of the King Power Stadium, receiving a mixture of applause and boos. Iheanacho said he appreciated the support shown, the Nigerian one of those who has retained a strong standing in the fanbase in spite of the club’s downfall this term. It may end up being his final game at the club. With only one year left on his contract, Iheanacho will be a contender to be sold in order for City to make up the loss of revenue that comes with being in the Championship.
Kelechi Iheanacho said: “The fans were really amazing, even at the end, they were clapping us and showing us support. I know it’s a hard one to take, going down, so I want to thank them for all of their support. Hopefully we will try our best to come back up.”
