11 games played, 10 points gained, 15th in the Premier League with our next opponents being third place Chelsea on 19 points. They have a positive nine-goal difference, we have a negative seven-goal difference. The gulf could hardly be greater.
Steve Cooper's record against the top teams has been dire. Apart from a draw against Tottenham Hotspur, the Foxes lost to Aston Villa, Arsenal, and most recently were torn apart by Manchester United. Most of the time, we can see the Welshman does not like to adapt his system based on the opponent, thus leaving the side defensively fragile.
What Leicester City must do to counter Chelsea
Instead of sticking with what has not been working for Leicester, Cooper ought to set the team out in a different fashion to best counter what we know Enzo Maresca likes to do. As a former head coach for the King Power, our players and our coach should have a good idea of this.
Maresca is one of the prodigies of Pep Guardiola. This means his system portrays a patient, possessive way of constructing chances: the ball is recycled incessantly between midfielders and defenders until the attackers are found in a dangerous position for a technical pass or explosive carry can find them. That was how Leicester created, and scored, the majority of their goals in the EFL Championship.
With the London-based Blues, the Premier League will have seen a level of inconsistency initially, but they are now finding their level under the Italian. Maresca sets them up to be flexible in positioning, and patient in scoring. It is that inconsistency in implementing the vision that Cooper will need to exploit in order to have any chance of countering the Blues.
As such, the Foxes need to starve Chelsea's forwards of possession in the attacking third, place more of their talents in their own defensive third, and apply as much pressure as possible to their midfield players. The aim of this approach should be to avoid Maresca's midfield from having the time and space to find explosive forwards, and should they find those forwards there should be enough Foxes back to put in a challenge.
With Ricardo Pereira, Jamie Vardy, Abdul Fatawu, and Jordan Ayew doubts for this critical fixture, it is key to look at a set-up which relies less on the forwards and places more emphasis further back. AKA, a classic 3-5-2 formation with two primary forwards.
The line-up I would hope for should those four remain unavailable would be: Mads Hermansen, Victor Kristiansen, Caleb Okoli, Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, James Justin, Harry Winks, Boubakary Soumare, Facundo Buonanotte, Stephy Mavididi, and Odsonne Edouard. Fatawu would come in for Edouard if available.
Those two forwards have got to stay very wide, almost surrendering the centre, with that being the place for our midfielders to run into as the explosive forwards can then get the ball into them. The King Power side will need to use pace, long-balls, and risky passes to break passed any defensive structures.
Leicester City undoubtedly need to alter their line-up and system. With injuries and a strong opposition, there is no choice there for Steve Cooper. Staying the course will lead only to another four goal defeat.
I feel the 3-5-2 with pacy wide forwards and a compact backline shielded by two defensive midfielders that have exceptional passing range and can both maraud forward when needed, will offer the East Midlands team the opportunity to starve forwards of possession and pressure midfielders into reckless decisions. Most importantly, a strong defence, with good passing, offers a springboard for a swift counterattack with two wide forwards being able to stretch a defence.