Claude Puel has gone a long way to restoring his reputation as Leicester City manager. The French tactician has done a decent job at the King Power Stadium. After Craig Shakespeare paid the ultimate price with Leicester City making the worst possible start to the 2017-18 season, Puel came into the picture. With just one win in eight matches, the Foxes were 18th in the Premier League table, only three points ahead of then bottom place Crystal Palace. Threatened by relegation the club decided to part ways with Shakespeare.
With Puel taking over since the club has performed well and churned out a few solid results to back it up. They have on occasions looked like the Leicester of 2015-16 season, a good sign for the Leicester board to continue with Puel. The latest showing came in their league match against last season’s champions.
Leicester City came up against a tired Chelsea side last weekend and was unlucky to leave Stamford Bridge without a win this Saturday. The Foxes were by far the faster, fitter and more aggressive of the two sides with the Leicester City boys wasting several valuable chances to seal the victory.
The Foxes were hard done by with the referee’s decision to send off Ben Chilwell. The Englishman was justifiably booked for his first offence but rather harshly sent off for a subsequent foul only five minutes later. His sending off halted Leicester’s assault on the Chelsea goal and the Foxes re-organized to shut out a late Blues onslaught to come away with a point.
Claude Puel stayed true to his words at his pre-match conference when the Leicester boss stated that his team will come looking to attack and continue to do so regardless of the scoreline. The Foxes come up against Watford this weekend hoping to clinch all three points and make a late dash for a European spot. Here is how Puel will look to line up his team.
Formation: 4-4-1-1
Defence
Kasper Schmeichel is expected in goal for the league match. Daniel Amartey is expected at right back with Christian Fuchs starting at left back. The centre-back pairing is expected to be Wes Morgan and Harry Maguire.
Midfield
Riyad Mahrez is expected on the right wing with Marc Albrighton on the left wing. Wilfred Ndidi and Vicente Iborra are expected to be the two men in the middle of the park.
Forward
Shinji Okazaki might get the nod to play as the withdrawn forward with Jamie Vardy playing ahead of him with Leicester’s number seven Demarai Gray expected to come off the bench should Leicester find themselves chasing the game later on.
