Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

What Maresca got right and wrong vs Huddersfield

By Robert Garner

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Neil Warnock the Head Coach of Huddersfield Town during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Leicester City at the John Smith's Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by John Early/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Neil Warnock the Head Coach of Huddersfield Town during the Sky Bet Championship match between Huddersfield Town and Leicester City at the John Smith's Stadium on August 12, 2023 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by John Early/Getty Images) /
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Leicester City
BURTON-UPON-TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Enzo Maresca, Manager of Leicester City, looks on prior to the Carabao Cup First Round match between Burton Albion and Leicester City at Pirelli Stadium on August 09, 2023 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

Enzoball at Leicester City

On the basis of what was being said by some Leicester fans around me at the John Smith’s stadium on Saturday there is a general misunderstanding about Maresca’s approach. There were regular complaints that Foxes players were not quick enough to move the ball forward and when they did more often than not it was played into dangerous areas where Huddersfield players were pressing.

What doesn’t seem to be appreciated by some Foxes fans is that this tactic is designed to draw in the opposition before beating the press and finding players further forward in space. It doesn’t work unless the opposition feel that there is at least some possibility that they might have a chance of winning the ball.

A bigger question is whether the Foxes have the players who can effectively utilise this tactic. One fan on Saturday who did, apparently, understand what the team was trying to do expressed the opinion that it was ‘like watching Manchester City on a budget’.  It is certainly the case that, on a number of occasions, passes were misplaced or Leicester players were tackled and lost possession thereby inviting unnecessary pressure.

Maresca, of course, isn’t going to change his approach. It remains to be seen whether it will be enough to keep the Foxes at the top end of the Championship table.