What Leicester City boss Claude Puel thinks about Spygate
Leicester City manager Claude Puel has delivered his verdict on the Spygate incident that is currently dominating the footballing world.
There doesn’t seem to be any definite take on whether Marcelo Bielsa’s spying antics are right or wrong.
They are well within the rules, yes, but not entirely ethical and professional – as Derby County manager Frank Lampard rightly said when lambasting Bielsa.
Puel, meanwhile, has come out with some finely balanced words on the saga – more balanced than his preferred Leicester XI – explaining that spying on opponents is a common practice in France, but the difference of culture means that it “can give another feeling” in England.
"“It’s different in England than in France,” said Puel.“We have in England, all training grounds without fans. All the teams can work with a lot of quiet, calm around them.“In France, it’s difficult to work (like this) all the time, some people try to look what the opponent can do. It’s a different thing.“In England, it’s special because normally we have, all the time, calm around the players, around the staff, to prepare the next game.“But of course this situation (with Leeds and Derby) can give another feeling.”"
It may give another feeling in this part of the world, but it doesn’t matter one jot to Bielsa – that’s all you can infer from his surprise press conference the other day.
The Leeds United manager admitted spying on all of his opponents before treating the media to an incredible PowerPoint presentation that lasted for a little over an hour.
He revealed his fascinating analysis of the Rams to contradict the claims that his side held an unfair advantage because of the spying. “I don’t need to go to watch a training session of an opponent to know how the opponent plays,” he said.
You would doubt that Lampard himself knows as much as Bielsa does about his Derby side. In fact, you have to question if any manager in the Sky Bet Championship would know as much as the former Lille boss does.
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Puel could maybe take a leaf out of Bielsa’s book and analyse his opponents just as much before he decides to favour one tactic every week.