Claude Puel asks Leicester City to “create another upset”

Claude Puel has called for Leicester City to create another upset as they brace themselves for Manchester City’s visit to the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes are on a high after recording their first win in 18 years against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge, ending a streak of four games without a win in the process.

Leicester now have another tough game to play against City on Boxing Day – their second meeting with the the champions in the space of a week.

The Citizens may have beaten Leicester in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, but let us not forget that they did so on penalties. Despite not being able to progress, Claude Puel’s side deservedly earned a lot of plaudits, and now the Frenchman has asked for a similar display.

"“Our last game against City was encouraging, about our mentality, about our play and possibility,” said Puel.“We lost on the lottery of penalties, we didn’t manage very well this exercise, I know. On the pitch it was interesting.“We will see our game. If we have the ability to repeat three days after a tough game against also a good team.“It will be another fantastic challenge and we need to create another upset.”"

However, Puel is also aware that City would be harder to beat this time around after they lost to Crystal Palace last week.

It was City’s second Premier League loss in three games, and as they now find themselves four points off league leaders Liverpool, the Leicester boss can’t see it getting any easier to take points from them.

"“We will play Manchester City after a loss; it will be tough,” he said.“All the time they can have two players for any position.“Fantastic players all the time, with the same way of playing, the same ability.“We will see the starting players for us, because we worked a lot today, three days after. We need to have all the good performances to give, but also a lot of work to give.“It will be, I think and I hope, a similar game, like the League Cup game. We played well, with a very good second half with character and quality.“I hope we can compete against this team with the same values, the same mentality.“It’s important to recover, of course, because it was a strong game (against Chelsea). With the win, we will find energy in our recovery.”"

There are two ways to look at City’s situation. One is to look at them as a scarred team that could be easier to beat now than they were at the start of December; another is to look at them as an injured lion that could marmalize Leicester because of how they are suddenly being underestimated. The latter is the way Puel sees them at the moment.

Whatever the case, this is going to be a great contest if Leicester can turn up on time.