Although some Leicester City fans do not wish to admit it, and would likely not appreciate the notion, yet former manager Marti Cifuentes probably would have just about kept them in the EFL Championship. While the Catalan tactician did not make a sterling success of his time with the Foxes by a long chalk, he began his tenure reasonably well and appeared to possess a slightly greater capacity to secure points than Gary Rowett's rather miserable period at the helm.
However, Rowett did manage to cultivate a somewhat more condensed and organised defence than his predecessor ever achieved. Nevertheless, the true slide appeared to occur just before and continue with Andy King's brief interim tenure, though one cannot fault the dedication the club legend poured into the role with every fibre of his being.
Rowett again showed one or two signs that he could keep LCFC in the division, which any manager worth his salt really should have, even with that talented but uncommitted squad overall. Not to mention injuries to important players like Aaron Ramsey and Jordan James, who were only loaness, as a side note.
Ex-Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes' shout
​Regardless, Cifuentes remains under the firm impression that he certainly should have been afforded significantly more time at King Power Stadium. Although this writer was never particularly impressed with his methods and felt relieved to see his departure, the subsequent replacements were entirely underwhelming and lacked even short-term foresight.
Marti Cifuentes is ‘certain’ he would have kept Leicester City in the Championship last season if he wasn’t sacked.
— Josh Holland (@joshhollandLCFC) June 15, 2026
He left the club with them in lower half of table before 2 wins in 17 left them 23rd. #LCFC https://t.co/W3xYZColyJ
When the one-time Queens Park Rangers head coach stated that he both deserved and required more time, he also remarked that the LCFC's ownership and fan base could have displayed greater patience rather than expecting head coaches to wield magic wands; a sentiment that carried a perceptible air of bitterness. Now the 43-year-old insists he would have undoubtedly avoided relegation and kept the side in England's second tier, a claim that, on balance, is arguably accurate when considering the acutely fine margin.
"Supporters and owners sometimes think coaches have a magic wand, but the reality is that some processes need time."Cifuentes, via FoL
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