Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

Why Leicester’s defence can become the best in Premier League: fullbacks

By Elliot Mackness

Sadio Mane of Liverpool is challenged by Ricardo Pereira of Leicester City (Photo by Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty Images)
Sadio Mane of Liverpool is challenged by Ricardo Pereira of Leicester City (Photo by Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City
Leicester City’s Portuguese defender Ricardo Pereira (L) tackles Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Ricardo Pereira

“he is a beast this season, as he was last season”

One of the best fullbacks in the Premier League. No. Better still, one of the best in Europe in this moment. Need I list the qualities this experienced defender? Well, I’m going to list them right here.

He can penetrate defences, attack with pace and intent, cross with elegance and intelligence, track back and form an organised defence, provide the determination to challenge for every ball, and yes, he can play anywhere vertically on the right very well.

There is only one quality he lacks as a fullback. He does not have a particularly impressive left foot. Or more acutely, he is strongly right-footed. This is great for a winger or right wing-back, but sometimes a fullback needs to fill-in for their horizontal opposite as well as their vertical opposite: sometimes he needs to play left-back.

He has played left-back for Leicester City only once – in the 3-1 comeback victory over Liverpool FC. He has played in that position a total of 25 times across his entire career. It would be very helpful for his development to improve his left-footed crosses and trust his own abilities more on the left.

What we saw against Liverpool was not bad. It was good. Defensively anyway. What it lacked was his constant penetrating drive forwards, I only remember one occasion he did this in the match. And what do you know, he did really well. He can play on the left but needs to develop it a little more.

Let’s put him into numbers (using a combination of the Squwarka matrix already linked, and Sofascore). In terms of his penetration and attacking intent, he successfully dribbles past 50% of those he challenges, this was 59% last season. He marauds down the right wing, creating a way to get around the defence and either put in a cross or pullback to an incoming midfielder.

In terms of defence he is a beast this season, as he was last season, despite not playing all that many games after his terrible injury last season. 5.4 ball recoveries per 90, a 66.67% aerially duel success rate, 3.8 clearances per 90, and 1.1 interceptions per 90. Considering he only recently got back from injury and is only just getting fully fit, this is inhuman, and very impressive.