Claude Puel was still deluded at the end

The latest interview given by Claude Puel is fairly revealing in his denial of facts and the free fall nature of his Leicester City side.

Claude Puel needed to be relieved of duty as Leicester City boss. It will be hard for anyone to argue he was a good fit at the King Power Stadium; even if those observers still believe he is a good coach deep down.

In truth there are possibly teams in other countries, or English divisions, which could benefit from the 57-year-old’s experience and knowledge. Although it certainly didn’t work with the Foxes; in spite of some miraculous results like beating Chelsea and Manchester City this campaign.

Truthfully, even those outcomes are typical of the East Midlands club, regardless of who’s in charge. It’s always been that way. Actually, one Blue Army member said it’s been like that since he began going to Filbert Street – around the 1940’s.

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Lcfc.com published a post-match interview with the Frenchman a short while after the demoralising defeat to the Eagles:

"“Of course, it’s a big disappointment at the end. We played a good first half with quality, a good performance with the ball with chances and shots. We conceded the first goal. We were unlucky, another time I think it’s perhaps not a foul against us.I think we have to manage this situation better, of course. It was difficult to accept this second goal with all this effort. We tried. After, we didn’t manage the game with enough quality. We made a mistake and we conceded all the goals at the end.“It’s difficult to accept and [we have] a lot of disappointment because we were unlucky. After the end of the game, we need confidence. Confidence to continue this way and believe in ourselves because I think we deserved another result.I think we didn’t have all the results we need and we deserve. But, it’s just first to continue the way and to have the right reaction after this game.”– Claude Puel"

Generally, it was a disorganised game for both teams; Palace didn’t actually seem as up for it as usual. Along with the aroma of three points and a bit of a turnaround in form, which emanated. Alas, after the first goal, which was lucky, this writer felt the match and Puel’s tenure was coming to a predictable end.

Whilst analysing the quote following soul-destroying loss, the French manager is clearly deluded about some elements of the contest; not that he or another athlete or former athletes should or could ever say; ‘it’s not working’ or ‘I’m not a good choice for this club’.

One delusional factor was his insistence that quality was evident first half: statistically the Leicester team was average, not terrible. Yet there was a distinct lack of cutting edge, directness on occasion, more bad decision-making and the usual deficiency in clinical finishing and key passing.

Some will disagree with us, which is fine and is your right to do so, but Puel’s wrong that the penalty was disagreeable: Jonny Evans attempted to pull out of the challenge, yes. However, he still clattered Wilfried Zaha in the penalty box. It’s unlikely that Palace would agree they didn’t deserve the win. Though, early on it appeared decisiveness may have gone either way.

Honestly, the language barrier was sometimes difficult for Puel to articulate himself, excusable of course. Monotony and similarly boring rhetoric is of course more inexcusable. Having the ‘right reaction’ after weekly humiliation is annoying to say the least.

In conclusion, the new gaffer must have a likable, media friendly persona – as it appears that was one of the things that irked supporters most. Oh how we pine for the congenitally and jovial disposition of a Claudio Ranieri – just not him, exactly! There are even aspects of Puel’s style which are compulsory to remain a trait, for example: youth development, along with promotion.