Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca believes the race for automatic promotion in the Championship is wide open following his side’s 1-0 defeat against Leeds United last night.
The Foxes went into the battle between the two relegated clubs on the run of nine successive league wins, a run which had seen them open up a five point gap over second-placed Ipswich Town. However, a solitary strike from Georginio Rutter was enough to hand the Whites a 1-0 win at the King Power Stadium, handing Leicester just their second defeat of the season.
Despite a stuttering start to the campaign, Leeds have been working their way up the table over the last few weeks and strengthened their grip on third place with last night’s victory. However, they remain 11 points behind the leaders, whereas Ipswich sit six points clear of the Yorkshire side having played two games less.
Maresca was happy with the performance though, and admired the quality of the game. Speaking in the aftermath, via the Yorkshire Post, the 43-year-old said;
“I just say hello to him (Daniel Farke), and probably the people in the stadium and on the television they enjoyed the game.
“We are both building, even if now the table you can still see the difference 11 points – we are aiming for the same target.
“They are very good, quick, dangerous, good technically. Overall happy, we cannot win all the games, defeat is part of the process. For sure, we can do something better.
“They start better than us, the reason why I don’t know. I think after our reaction was very good.”
Despite the lengthy gap the top two hold over the chasing pack, the former Manchester City assistant believes there are several teams still in the hunt for automatic promotion;
“There are many teams building to get promoted like us, Leeds they are building to get promoted.
“With Leicester, with Ipswich, with Southampton – it’s a long race for many clubs, not just Leeds and Leicester. For me, Sunderland could be there.”
Leicester face a tough test next week heading into the international break, with a trip to Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough.
Writer’s View
Maresca is correct in his assessment that there are still so many teams who could sneak into the top two. Should Ipswich win their two games in hand – starting today with the trip to Birmingham City – they could replace Leicester at the top, but there are still over 30 games to play this season and a lot can change.
The Championship is arguably as strong as it has ever been and the clubs he has mentioned will certainly be in with a shout come May – as should the likes of Middlesbrough and Hull City.
