Leicester City captain Ricardo Pereira is the man of the moment in the team. Well, he wasn't actually in the starting line-up when eventually making two of the season's most significant contributions from the substitute's bench. The Portuguese has suffered many injuries while at LCFC, in between being a truly reliable and quality performer over his seven years in the East Midlands with the Foxes.
The club skipper has now returned to the XI for the Coventry City game. We'll have more on the M69 derby later on in the day, as it is currently at the half-time break. However, I'm sure Ricardo will help his teammates on the day. Though what he recently said in an exclusive interview is the subject of today's article, as opposed to his on-pitch actions. We know we can trust the 31-year-old in his defensive and offensive capacities.
The focus here is, in fact, why Ricardo was the best choice of leader from the City squad at large. What he said during his back and forth with Leicester Mercury proves he was the correct captain choice upon his coincidental return to the XI.
Leicester City's Ricardo Pereira proves he was right choice on return to XI
I'm not privy to Leicester manager Marti Cifuentes' thoughts, but Hamza Choudhury was probably only a starter due to Ricardo's latest fitness issues. Let's face it.
And now that the latter is fit, Choudhury is promptly dropped. I mean no disrespect to the LCFC Academy graduate, by the way. He's done fairly well.
Though Ricardo is arguably an upgrade in two areas: as a right back and as a figurehead. The former Porto and OGC Nice man is an underrated footballer who we are lucky to have in tier two. Certain comments he made of late are testament to his suitability:
"I’ve changed a lot as a person, with experiences that happen through your life and career. I’m much more mature. I’m a different player with different capabilities of the ones I had before... Now I understand the game more, with experience, with game-time, understanding people, understanding human beings...Trying to lead by example, trying to be professional, trying to help others. It doesn’t mean it’s just the captain who should do that, it should be everyone."Ricardo Pereira