Chelsea Vs Leicester City: Claude Puel hoping to have Jamie Vardy back
Leicester City boss Claude Puel is hoping to have Jamie Vardy back in time for the game against Chelsea this weekend.
Puel had to face a backlash over his decision to drop the 31-year old in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester City after he had picked him in the fixture against Crystal Palace last Saturday.
The Frenchman, however, has defended his selection, stating that it was too early for Vardy to play twice in the space of four days.
He is also sanguine about a return to the starting XI for the Leicester forward when the Foxes travel to the Stamford Bridge.
"“I hope we can have Jamie on Saturday. There wasn’t enough time for him to play today,” he said.“He trained one full session and then played against Palace in the Premier League for 90 minutes. It was important to keep him fresh.“We have to be careful to avoid another injury. It is the second time with the same groin. I hope he can play against Chelsea on Saturday.”"
To be fair to him, the decision to rest Vardy was indeed right in the grand scheme of things. What was not right, though, was picking Vardy last week. If Puel was aware of the striker’s situation, then he could have saved his legs for the all-important league cup quarter-final.
The intent was obviously right, but the course of action wasn’t, which probably sums up his tenure at Leicester very well. He has always taken the right approach to his side’s football, in his players’ defence and every other matter, but tactical blunders and wrong team selections have blighted all of his efforts.
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Having tasted three consecutive defeats, he is now on the verge at Leicester, and if he doesn’t get a result against either Chelsea or Manchester City, then it would surely be his end at the King Power Stadium. He better pick his best XI.