Leicester City: Claude Puel irritated with City loss

Claude Puel’s Leicester suffered a 2-0 defeat to table-toppers Manchester City on Saturday afternoon in a match which could have gone either way.

The Foxes started strongly but were soon pegged back by goals either side of half-time by Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne.

The visitors could have had a man sent off in the opening three minutes. City captain Vincent Kompany deemed to have bought down Jamie Vardy as he looked to be clear on goal. The Belgium international was lucky to only receive a yellow card.

The result leaves the Foxes sat in twelfth place, four points adrift the relegation zone. Puel feels the decision to only hand Kompany a caution a poor one.

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"“My first feeling is of frustration because we started the game very well with good organisation, ” he told reporters after the game. “It was a fantastic first move between [Vicente] Iborra and Jamie Vardy. I think it should have been a red card. All this can change the game. It was the first incident against us.“The first 30 minutes was interesting with good a level, good organisation and good use of the ball with good opportunities on the attack and counter attack. The last 15 minutes before half time were more difficult because there was too much space between our lines and the first goal was hard to accept because it came just before half time."

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Leicester have now failed to beat a team placed top of the league for 19 years and despite City’s goal on the stroke of half-time, Puel feels his side reacted to going a goal down well.

"“We came back with good intention in the second half and we could have scored, but we hit the post,” he added. “Then on the counter attack we conceded the second goal. It was a good goal but also difficult to accept.”"

Pep Guardiola’s City have now gone 12 games unbeaten and have scored 40 goals in the process, making them the team to beat.

Puel believed the goals allowed City to play the game they wanted leading Leicester  to attack which left them vulnerable at the back.

"“We know this team, they are a fantastic team and for me the best in Europe at the moment,” he explained. “Once we conceded it was difficult to get back into the game. “We tried to push sometimes but every attack it was difficult for us because it was good for them to play with the two goals so they could counter attack us.”"

The Frenchman opted to field Marc Albrighton over Shinji Okazaki and chose to play the winger in a more central role. The move proved to be successful allowing Albrighton the space to close the menacing De Bruyne and David Silva.

"“I think it was interesting. The first 30 minutes the system with Marc in midfield allowed a good organisation and there was some good football and we looked solid, and there was quality because Marc had all the quality in this position because he has good technique. He has good effort and can run a lot. “After the first 30 minutes it was more difficult because we left too much space between our lines and they can find the space between our lines and can attack. It is difficult. It was important to be compact in the second half but we conceded the second goal after we had a chance. It is just a pity.”"

The Foxes now head to the London Stadium to face West Ham in a match which provides them with the chance of widening the gap of four points between them and the drop zone to seven.

Next: Leicester City 0-2 Manchester City: Encouraging signs not enough for Foxes