Leicester city
Transfer demand, start date, Top’s admission – 5 things learned from Enzo Maresca’s announcement
Transfer demand, start date, Top’s admission – 5 things learned from Enzo Maresca’s announcement
The Italian was named Leicester City’s new manager on Friday evening, and there was plenty to take note of as he was introduced and as he spoke for the first time
Enzo Maresca was named Leicester City’s new manager on Friday evening and the announcement, as well as the accompanying interview, provided plenty of eye-catching details and comments. Here are five things we learned from Maresca’s introduction.
You’re not Premier League players any more
Maresca’s first interview showed he does not mince his words. The Italian was forthright in his message to his new players, making it extremely clear that a mentality change was needed in the squad if they were to be promoted.
There were three separate instances of him drilling home that point. First he said: “The reality in this moment says that we are a Championship club, so we need to have all the players with the same mentality thinking that we are in the Championship.”
Then he added: “We need to rebuild this confidence. Then the players that stay with us from last year, they need to change their mentality,” before saying: “The most important part of this is they need to understand now that we are in the Championship.”
The message is unequivocal. City are not a Premier League club any more, so the squad cannot have it in their minds that they are Premier League players any more.
Believing that they deserve to be turning out in the top flight overlooks the reality of the situation, that this group of players suffered relegation because they weren’t good enough. Maresca sounds like he does not want them getting ideas above their station.
Seagrave won’t be holiday home for new recruits
When a new manager is appointed, they will of course discuss transfers. But usually those conversations happen behind closed doors, with the director of football and recruitment staff, about what they feel is needed.
But it is so obvious that City’s squad needs an overhaul that Maresca was willing to discuss it in the open immediately. He referenced “the players that want to leave” and the need for “a big change” and a “rebuild,” before explaining how he wants Leicester to come across when they are convincing players to sign. He said: “The players that we bring in, they need to understand that Leicester is a demanding club.”
Seagrave cannot be a holiday home. Anybody turning up and thinking it’s a nice, shiny place to do the day job must also know that, once inside, hard work is a necessity.
Recognition that City have veered off course
Of the chairman’s words on Maresca’s appointment, it was his sign-off that stood out. In it, there was an acknowledgement that City had completely lost their way, and were heading in the wrong direction.
Top said: “I have no doubt he (Maresca) will be warmly welcomed by our supporters and that together we can reset the club’s course towards future success.”
Those are strong words. There is no suggestion there that City have slightly gone off track, and merely need to be steered back to where they were going previously. Instead a “reset” is required. Not only is the appointment itself – City opting for a left-field choice of manager – a sign of a fresh approach, but those words also suggest the failings of the past 24 months are not being taken lightly.
Short pre-season for Maresca to get his ideas across
Maresca’s start date was confirmed as Monday, July 3, when City’s non-internationals will return for the beginning of pre-season training. That gives them just five weeks to get ready for the new Championship season, and just five weeks for Maresca to implement his plans and get the squad playing his way.
That is a very quick turnaround. A later finish to last season compared to other Championship clubs, as well as the need for a new manager and a revamp of the squad meant City were always going to be playing catch-up.
Maresca stressed in his opening interview the need for time, and unless he can work miracles in July, it feels like his City team will still be a work-in-progress come the first game of the season. Patience may be required.
The outfield players he should be able to work with straight away include Ricardo Pereira, James Justin, Hamza Choudhury, Boubakary Soumare, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dennis Praet, Marc Albrighton, Harvey Barnes, and Jamie Vardy, provided none of them are sold in the mean-time. He will also have a host of young players to work with too.
One chance to preview new-look City
Because of his inexperience as a first-team manager, there is little evidence of how a Maresca team will play. It seems like City supporters won’t get many opportunities to learn before the competitive action begins.
The club confirmed that the trip to Northampton on Saturday, July 15, would be Maresca’s first pre-season match in charge. After that, City travel to Asia to take on Tottenham and Liverpool.
There are expected to be more games to get City up to speed, but those will be behind closed doors. So unless supporters are taking the long journey east to see the team in Thailand and Singapore, a short trip down the road to Sixfields provides the one opportunity to see Maresca’s men in the flesh before the big kick-off.
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