In what has been an almost perfect season for Leicester City thus far, the 2023/24 Championship campaign has presented the team with its first major obstacle.
For the first time this season, Leicester has suffered consecutive losses. Two 1-0 defeats against Leeds United and Middlesbrough have narrowed their lead over newly promoted Ipswich Town in second place. However, the Foxes still maintain an eight-point lead over the first play-off spot.
Up until now, everything has been smooth sailing for Enzo Maresca and his team. However, this Championship season is shaping up to be highly competitive. Leicester cannot afford to become complacent and assume that their lead over the competition will remain secure.
Overcoming their recent setbacks is the biggest challenge Maresca has faced during his time as boss of the Foxes.
While it may be an overstatement to say that things are going wrong at the King Power Stadium, there are definitely areas where improvement is needed.
The manner in which they secured a 2-1 victory over QPR at Loftus Road was not up to the usual standard. Despite their possession, they only produced 1.07 expected goals, which is a concern given QPR’s poor performance this season.
In their recent matches, opponents have set up to congest the midfield, making it difficult for players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to make an impact on the game.
Maresca will need to find a way to get Dewsbury-Hall and others into more dangerous positions on the field.
After studying Leicester’s last three games, future opposing teams are likely to adopt similar tactics to disrupt Leicester’s midfield. Maresca should acknowledge this and have confidence in his team’s ability to overcome these challenges.
Leicester possesses a strong group of wingers, including Stephy Mavididi, Kasey McAteer, and Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, who are among the best in the league. If opponents continue to focus on suppressing the midfield, the wingers will need the freedom to take charge of the game.
By deploying the wingers to stretch the opposition’s defense, this will create space for midfielders to make late runs and for the striker to operate more effectively.
Maresca’s greatest challenge at Leicester thus far can be overcome with the resources at his disposal.
