Foxes of Leicester
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Man Utd 1-2 Leicester: 3 points keep UCL dream alive for Foxes

By Dominic Wells

Leicester City's Northern Irish manager Brendan Rodgers (R) celebrates with Leicester City's Turkish defender Caglar Soyuncu (L)(Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Leicester City's Northern Irish manager Brendan Rodgers (R) celebrates with Leicester City's Turkish defender Caglar Soyuncu (L)(Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Leicester City’s Northern Irish manager Brendan Rodgers (L) greets Leicester City’s Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans (Photo by DAVE THOMPSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

I’ve stated this before, but the tactical capabilities of this current Leicester City side are levels above anything we’ve seen previously at the club – these micro positional adjustments are natural for the players and they made the transitions seamless. It was within this shape (4-4-2) that the Foxes also began to dictate the game versus Manchester United after an end-to-end affair in the first-half.

Exceptional goals from both teams, although I’d argue Luke Thomas’ was of the highest level of quality, facilitated an even fixture at the half. If you paid close attention, Leicester City started to cause problems for the Red Devils by pressing the centre-back duo of Axel Tuenzebe and Eric Bailly. This was a revelation towards the end of the first-half, but this allowed turnovers of possession in advanced areas for the Foxes. Keen to replicate this momentum, Rodgers demanded that his side upped intensity and willingness in their press and forced Manchester United’s backline to make fast decisions in possession – something they struggled with.

For the opening 21 minutes of the second-half, Leicester City controlled the ball and once they conceded possession, reclaimed it within three-to-four passes. This onslaught of pressure enabled the second goal, which was seemingly always likely to come. Prior to scoring, Kelechi Iheanacho started to find spaces in the half-spaces, Youri Tielemans was found in pockets close to United’s box and the Foxes looked increasingly comfortable playing through the makeshift opposition.