Arsene Wenger did say that he was a big admirer
of Benzema's abilities but he also spoke this
summer about the
team spirit in the dressing room was more important than any individual player, so was he perhaps alluding to the, apparently, slightly murky side
of Benzema's character?
But no - one can deny Ranieri's side their remarkable workrate and supreme
team spirit as the entire squad, including many players who were written off with other clubs, came together to form a indefatigable bond, seizing their chance under a manager who was greeted when he arrived last
summer with some scepticism after a patchy career but who proved that experience is invaluable after spells at the likes
of Chelsea, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Inter Milan.