Former Leicester City striker Emile Heskey has been left impressed by his former side this season and has heaped praise on head coach Enzo Maresca.
The Foxes were in a difficult place when the Italian left Manchester City during the summer to take over at the King Power Stadium, having been relegated from the Premier League in unprecedented fashion just two years after lifting the FA Cup.
The squad needed open-heart surgery, with a lot of key players leaving the club, including the likes if Youri Tielemans, Johnny Evans, Caglar Soyuncu, James Maddison, and Timothy Castagne, just to name a few.
However, Maresca managed to make some astute signings by acquiring Cesare Casadei on loan, Stephy Mavididi and Harry Winks, while keeping hold of some top talents like Ricardo Pereira, Kelechi Iheanacho, Patson Daka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Leicester have had their first blip in form in recent weeks, losing two consecutive games in the Championship against promotion-chasers Leeds United and Middlesbrough but the Foxes remain top of the pack, having accumulated 39 points from 16 games in the league.
Speaking in a recent interview, ex-striker Heskey revealed what has made Maresca a success so early into his tenure with Leicester City [quotes via Leicestershire Live]:
“I am desperate to see Leicester back in the top flight. When you look at the squad they have, it is a Premier League squad.
“They are doing fantastically. What [Enzo] Maresca has come in and done, getting them to play and understand the way he wants them to play, has been phenomenal. A lot of players came in late as well so to get them to where they are now has been great.
“It is wonderful to see them on the up. That is where they belong. We have got the best training facility in Europe, we have a great board, and the stadium is fantastic. We belong at the top.”
Writer’s View
Brendan Rodgers had built a solid tactical identity with Leicester City during his tenure at the club but the team lost their way in his final season in charge.
Nevertheless, Maresca has reignited this spark, maintaining possession-based, attacking principles that made the Foxes one of the best sides to watch in English football in recent seasons, while also keeping hold of Premier League-quality players. The only way is up for Leicester.
Deputy Head of Writing
