Unlucky or just not good enough? Leicester City miss out on Champions League again

Well, it's happened again, and there is no running away from it. Leicester City ran out of petrol on the final straight and only just managed to get past the finish line. In both 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, the Foxes were looking sure to reach the continent's showcase tournament only to blow it up with terrible results in the final weeks. It's becoming a bit of a curse.

Let's get the obvious stuff out of the way, shall we? Yes, Leicester have won the FA Cup, which is a fantastic achievement. They made shrewd signings and delivered a polished, classy, efficient brand of football for the best part of the season. If someone had offered any of the players, club officials, supporters and manager Brendan Rogers a fifth-place finish in the Premier League and the FA Cup trophy – they would have probably accepted it with a smile. But sometimes, your appetites would rise during the campaign. And this is what is hurting Jamie Vardy and his buddies.

Three defeats in the last four Premier League seasons is a poor return for any club, not least for one looking to book a place among Europe's elite sides and compete at the biggest stage. But, to the disbelief of the Foxes – that's precisely what happened.

Last season, Bournemouth, Tottenham and Manchester United all beat Leicester in the season run-in, and this term, it was again Spurs, along with Newcastle and Chelsea. They piled misery on Rodgers and condemned the Foxes on another year of watching the Champions League on television.

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Despite another late heartbreak, the former Liverpool and Celtic boss put on a brave face and called for fans to be proud of the team's achievements this season.

"It's hugely disappointing for us. We fought so hard all season. I always said you're judged after 38 games, and unfortunately, we couldn't quite make it. When we started work together, we were mid-table, and now we're challenging the elite. We've won the FA Cup for the first time in our history, and we're on the right path without the resources of the other teams. I have nothing but pride. The players have given me their heart and soul every day. I'm so disappointed for them we couldn't get over the line."

Two fifth-place finishes in two years. It's not bad. But it could and should have been even better for the ambitious Foxes. Perhaps it will be the third time lucky. Or maybe the curse will consume Brendan Rodgers and his players.

How Leicester City dropped out of Premier League's top four

18.18: Jamie Vardy scores a penalty to put Leicester 1-0 up. The Foxes move into the top four at Liverpool's expense.

18.36: Sadio Mane gives Liverpool the lead against Crystal Palace to put them back in the top four, pushing Chelsea down to fifth. Over in Leicester, Tottenham's Harry Kane equalises to knock the Foxes out of the top four. Chelsea are back in.

18.36: Bertrand Traore puts Aston Villa 1-0 up against Chelsea, who are a point ahead of fifth-placed Leicester, but a Foxes goal would see the sides swap places.

18.50: It's half-time everywhere. Liverpool are in third, Chelsea lie fourth and Leicester are fifth - behind Chelsea on goal difference. West Ham are sixth, five points clear of seventh-placed Spurs.

19.11: Vardy scores another penalty to put Leicester 2-1 up and back into the top four. Chelsea now need to score twice or hope arch-rivals Spurs can equalise against the Foxes.

19.13: Aston Villa go 2-0 up against Chelsea to deepen the Blues' woe. They now need to score three or hope that Tottenham recover.

19.30: Ben Chilwell pulls one back for Chelsea but they are still losing 2-1 at Villa.

19.34: A pivotal moment as Tottenham equalise at Leicester via a Kasper Schmeichel own goal under pressure from Davinson Sanchez. Chelsea replace Leicester in top four.

19.35: Sadio Mane makes it 2-0 to Liverpool, tightening their grip on third place.

19.41: Substitute Gareth Bale makes it 3-2 to Tottenham at the King Power and Leicester now need to score twice.

19.51: Bale makes it 4-2 to bury Leicester's top-four hopes.