Claude Puel: Foxes have fantastic potential
By James Lassey
Leicester City’s 2-2 draw against Stoke City has left manager Claude Puel with a lot to do but he insists his side hold an “interesting” future.
The Foxes led twice at the Bet365 stadium through goals by Vicente Iborra and Riyad Mahrez and the Puel is happy with what he saw.
While the Frenchman’s side impressed on the front foot, questions remained over the stability of their defence. Stoke City’s Xherdan Shaqiri and Peter Crouch both profited with goals following poor defensive errors from Leicester’s back four.
Puel now enters the two week international break with City sat in twelfth place, four points clear of the relegation zone. He will now focus his time on preparing his team for the visit of league leaders Manchester City on November 18.
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"“I think we have fantastic potential to attack with quality,” he said. “This is very interesting for the future. After that, we can correct some details in defensive situations or start with players.“For example, the first 20-25 minutes (at Stoke) was not good, without the good intensity or quality. It was better after we had a good intensity, a (sense of) fight, a good attitude.“We played forward and that is important because when we can find our striker in the final third, we saw we can be dangerous all the time.”"
Leicester had 14 shots but only managed to get four on target, a fraction Puel will need to address if they are to see out games in the future.
Shinji Okazaki could have doubled their lead shortly after Iborra opened it, a Demarai Gray cross found the striker’s head but it was smartly met by the diving Jack Butland.
The Foxes created a host of chances moments after taking the initiative and Puel may look back wishing that they could have converted more.
"He said: “With all the chances (City had), it was amazing. It was a good game and encouraging for the future, but of course we have different things to work on. We have time now in the international break but without the international players. We have good potential for the next games.”“I think it is important,” said the City boss. “It is not a position for in our own half.“There is the potential to have more possession in the opponents’ half of the pitch."
Since Puel’s arrival, there has been a change of formation and tactics. The former Southampton man has opted to give more attacking freedom to his fullbacks and looks to utilise the pace of Jamie Vardy, Gray and Mahrez on the counter attack.
The Frenchman remains encouraged by the result but believes he is yet to get the best out of his players and feels they have more to give.
"He said: “We have to improve in all areas but it is encouraging what I can see on the training pitch, with good understanding of the players and with quality.“For example, after the first 25 minutes we saw good football with good quality and chances away from home. This is important.“We are of course a little disappointed because we lost two points. I don’t know if it is a fair result but it is encouraging for the future.“We have to correct some details because the two goals we conceded we can do better.”"
City defender Harry Maguire is the only Leicester man who could feature for England in their upcoming friendlies against Germany and Brazil on November 10 and 14 respectively.