Puel’s Leicester City has more fight than Stoke City
By James Lassey
Claude Puel has called upon his players to show fight and desire in Saturday’s showdown against Stoke City.
Puel is yet to see his team score a goal against the Potters, having watched his Southampton side fail to so twice. First drawing 0-0 and then he lost 1-0 courtesy of a Peter Crouch goal which led to his sacking.
The Frenchman will be looking to avenge the loss with his new look Leicester. Both clubs head into the clash off the back of impressive victories. Stoke beat in-form Watford 1-0 away from home, while the Foxes heaped further misery onto David Unsworth’s Everton with a 2-0 win.
The duo enter Saturday’s fray looking to avoid the grasp of the relegation places and Puel believes the Potters will offer many difficulties.
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"Speaking in his press conference prior to Saturday’s fixture, he said: “It was a difficult last game for me at Southampton against Stoke, but it is now another game,“They are physically strong and have good players like (Xherdan) Shaqiri and (Darren) Fletcher.”"
The Foxes will look to capitalise on the poor conversion rate of attacking playmaker Shaqiri, the Swiss international has only scored once in his 14 appearances for club and country.
However Stoke boast a decent home record, they have beaten Puel’s former club Southampton and Arsenal as well as holding Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United to a 2-2 draw.
Puel is more than aware of the problems the hosts can pose, especially if his Leicester aren’t at their best.
"The Frenchman continued: “It is difficult to play against this team. They stay resolute, as we saw at Watford.“But we are the team in confidence after the last three games and it is important to continue to perform at this high level.”"
Puel’s men tarvel to the Bet365 stadium having won their last three games in all competitions and have gone five league games unbeaten.
Addressing the visitor’s run, Puel acknowledges the importance of keeping to the same intensity shown in previous games.
"He added: “We need to keep this ambition, it is the same ambition away as at home,” he added.“The evolution of the system for me is good but the most important thing is the conviction to prepare for this game, to start with fight and with desire and passion.This is very important for me home and away – it is the same. There is no difference between playing away or at home.”"
Leicester City have not filled their allocation for Saturday’s game probably due to the early kick-off and the game being shown live on Sky Sports. Despite this, Puel aspires to have the same level of support that his side enjoyed last Sunday against Everton,
He said: “I hope we have the incredible support from the Blue Army on Saturday,” he said. “It would be fantastic because they were unbelievable with their songs and the clappers.”
Puel confirmed that Ben Chilwell is a doubt for the game after picking up a knock in training this week.
Chilwell started in the win over Everton in a more advanced role and his absence could mean a return to the starting lineup for Marc Albrighton.
The manager also confirmed that Robert Huth, Matty James and Yohan Benalouane are all still out with injuries.