Cifuentes Praises Team Spirit After Leicester City Victory

Leicester City secured a convincing victory over Birmingham City, with a late goal from substitute Ricardo Pereira sealing the win. The match, held at the King Power Stadium, marked the team’s second consecutive win, highlighting their positive momentum as they continue to build under manager Marti Cifuentes.

Pereira’s goal came from a well-executed volley following a cross from Jeremy Monga, showcasing the attacking prowess of the squad. The jubilant scenes in the dugout reflected the team’s unity, as players like Jakub Stolarczyk and Stephy Mavididi celebrated enthusiastically. Cifuentes emphasized that this camaraderie is a vital component of the team’s identity.

In his post-match comments, Cifuentes expressed satisfaction with the overall performance. “I’m happy,” he stated. “It’s never easy to win football games, so we need to be happy for the final score.” He noted the importance of the team’s character, highlighting the players’ willingness to put in hard work and their commitment to each other on the pitch.

Cifuentes pointed out key moments in the game, mentioning the two goals and the assists provided by Louis Page and Monga. He also praised Abdul Fatawu for his impactful performance, including another goal to his name.

The manager acknowledged areas for improvement, stating, “In some moments we were too low and too deep. I don’t like it. We need to learn to improve how to control the games with the ball and being much higher up the pitch.” Cifuentes sees this as part of an ongoing process to establish a strong foundation for the team.

The resilience and determination displayed by the players were evident, particularly as they fought to maintain their lead late in the match. “If we need to block a shot in the 90th minute, we do it. If we can press high in the 80th minute despite leading 1-0, we try to do it,” he remarked.

One player notably absent from the matchday squad was Bilal El Khannouss, who has now been left out for two consecutive games. His future remains uncertain ahead of the upcoming transfer deadline, which is fast approaching. When questioned about El Khannouss’ mental readiness should he remain with the team, Cifuentes responded, “I have no problem with Bilal or anybody who is out of the list. At this moment, I pick what I think is the best team to win the game.”

Cifuentes noted the challenge of making selection choices, recognizing that while he may not always make the right decisions, his priority is to assemble the team best suited for success in each match. As the club heads into the next phase of the season, the focus will remain on maintaining the positive momentum and strengthening the team’s performance on the pitch.