The shimmering facade of King Power Stadium often masks the brittle realities of a club in transition. Yet Wout Faes, the curly-haired Belgium international, seems intent on polishing his own reflection before addressing the cracks in the foundation.
There is a perceptible, almost cinematic inflation to Faes's self-appraisal: he moves with the air of a man convinced that his occasional omissions from the Leicester City starting XI are mere statistical anomalies. Glitches in the matrix.
Faes would tell you that his is a career otherwise destined for the pantheon of defensive greats. However, for the faithful Blue Army, the reality has been far less divine. Wholly underwhelming.
What the supporters craved in that pivotal sentry role was a titan of consistency: a tougher, brighter and more resilient guardian than the one currently occupying this piece. While Faes is, by all accounts, a seemingly likeable chap with an easy smile, it is easy to recall the chilling assessment of "Critical Bill" in Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead: "your reputation far exceeds your skills".
After observing the 27-year-old's exploits for nearly three seasons, these sentiments have shifted from hushed terrace whispers to unavoidable truths. He possesses the aesthetic of a ball-playing virtuoso, but often lacked the gritty pragmatism and concentration required when Premier League or EFL Championship gales began howling.
Nevertheless, beneath the veneer of self-importance, Faes has provided a startlingly pinpoint autopsy of the recent Foxes collapse. He likening the squad's mental fortitude to a house of cards.
Wout Faes with the Leicester City timeline of doom
The Mol-born footballer's candor regarding the King Power outfit's tactical fragility and emotional spiraling offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the dressing room's suffering psyche. Faes may not be the iron-clad oracle the fans envisioned, although, in his diagnostic eloquence, he has finally struck a chord of painful, undeniable resonance with the inhabitants of LE2:
"If you look at the standings in the Championship, you can imagine what things are like there at the moment. Since the departure of Maresca, it has collapsed like a house of cards. It is a real shame, because Leicester is and remains a wonderful club, with tremendous potential,” he said.Sport Witness
On losing prominence at the King Power Stadium, Faes explained: “That was indeed new and difficult for me, because before that, I basically always played wherever I was."