Leicester City began the Claude Puel era in style as the Foxes dispatched Everton 2-0. Here’s what we learned from a splendid all-round display at the King Power Stadium:
Demarai Gray breathing again
We have seen Demarai Gray sulk, and we have also heard him moan, but we haven’t really seen him play as much. Now that Claude Puel is here, however, it’s clear that we could be about to see a lot more of the young English prodigy who everyone has craved for the sight of.
Gray was handed a start by Puel at the expense of Shinji Okazaki, and the 21-year old repaid the Frenchman’s faith by running the length of the pitch for Jamie Vardy’s opener and scoring the second himself.
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The electric winger demonstrated every bit of quality that he has in tonight’s performance, and if he continues that way, he may soon be an indispensable part of this Leicester City side.
Claude Puel not afraid of a change
The moment Claude Puel named his XI, it was obvious that the Frenchman wasn’t having any of what Leicester City have been doing so far. As has been discussed every week, the Foxes needed to bin the 4-4-2, and Puel did just that, playing a 4-2-3-1 that made this side look much more better in all the areas.
The 66-year old also named Ben Chilwell in his starting XI, playing the young left-back just behind Jamie Vardy in a wide role alongside Riyad Mahrez and Demarai Gray.
With so many changes made in his first game itself, Claude Puel’s message is clear: Leicester City are going to do it his way. If the 2-0 win is anything to go by, “his” way is pretty good.
Worrying times for Kelechi Iheanacho and company
A 4-2-3-1 now the Leicester City system, there’s space for just one striker, and you know who is it going to be: Jamie Vardy – deservedly so.
However, the question now is what happens to the expensive strikers warming the bench, Messrs Kelechi Iheanacho, Islam Slimani and Ahmed Musa?
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The three have been getting their chances in the Carabao Cup, but surely, you don’t spend £20-odd million for a player to play in the league cup? The problem is, there’s no room for either one with the current system as is, but there’s a feeling that they are too good to sit out every Premier League game.