Setting Standards – Cifuentes’ Charlton Preview

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Setting Standards – Cifuentes’ Charlton Preview

Recovering from recent setbacks and remaining committed to high standards was the message from Martí Cifunetes ahead of our trip to Charlton Athletic this weekend.

2025-08-23T08:45+01:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

23 Aug, 2025

Setting Standards – Cifuentes’ Charlton Preview

Recovering from recent setbacks and remaining committed to high standards was the message from Martí Cifunetes ahead of our trip to Charlton Athletic this weekend.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-23T08:45+01:00

Setting Standards – Cifuentes’ Charlton Preview

Recovering from recent setbacks and remaining committed to high standards was the message from Martí Cifunetes ahead of our trip to Charlton Athletic this weekend.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-23T08:45+01:00

Setting Standards – Cifuentes’ Charlton Preview

Recovering from recent setbacks and remaining committed to high standards was the message from Martí Cifunetes ahead of our trip to Charlton Athletic this weekend.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-23T08:45+01:00

Setting Standards – Cifuentes’ Charlton Preview

Recovering from recent setbacks and remaining committed to high standards was the message from Martí Cifunetes ahead of our trip to Charlton Athletic this weekend.

Sam Stevens

2025-08-23T08:45+01:00

Leicester City head to The Valley on Saturday for a 12:30pm BST kick-off against the newly-promoted Addicks, who have picked up four points from two games on their return to the Sky Bet Championship.

Cifuentes’ Foxes, on the other hand, were on the wrong side of a 2-1 reverse at Preston North End last time out, after overcoming Sheffield Wednesday by the same scoreline on the opening day.

‘We’re looking for togetherness’

Two games into the new league campaign, three points are on the board for City, who will be hoping to double that tally with a victory in the capital this weekend.

New Manager Cifuentes spoke on Thursday about the role the Blue Army can play in helping the team to achieve their objectives, while also outlining some of the work that is being done to make sure the fans can be proud of their players as well.

“We’re looking for togetherness,” he told reporters. “They need to feel that we represent them and that we play for the badge. From there, I can just promise that I will do my best to make sure they feel proud.

“It was not pleasant after the game, all of us were disappointed, but we’ll try to work on it. Togetherness is always key for success. There are always different ways [to build togetherness]. Winning football games always helps.

“That’s the ultimate target, but I think people always understand when a team is trying and when a team really cares. That’s what I want to communicate, to show, that we care for the Club, that we care not only for the next game, but for the future of the Club.

“That we’re trying to set the basis to have a successful spell here and that we want this to be represented in every single minute in every game. It doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly, it doesn’t matter if it’s the last game of the season, even when we train.

“We’ll set those standards that people can feel proud of and I’m sure that the players have a 100 per cent understanding of this message. We’re going to try our best again on Saturday.”

‘We know how intense they are’

Looking ahead to the specific test which will be posed by Charlton, Cifuentes expects Nathan Jones’ men to present an ‘important’ challenge for Leicester, who are still adapting to being back in the second tier.

“They did really well last season to get promoted,” the Manager added. “Obviously it’s a historic club. It’s good news for football that they’re back to a league like the Championship. We’ll expect a good atmosphere there.

“We know how intense his teams are and, in that sense, it will be another important test of how we understand what is required to compete in this league. Obviously the main thing for us and for me is to impose our style and our strengths, but also as well, be capable to compete on some situations where, in the Championship, they are important.”

‘It’s very important, the identity’

Cifuentes says he is learning every day about his squad as the new season progresses – with the new man in charge determined to give the fans an attacking team which plays on the front foot.

“I learn every day,” he explained. “That’s my job, to learn from them as well. Obviously it was a very important moment when I arrived at the Club and we went to Austria.

“We spent 10 or 12 days together. But at the same time, probably in the last five or six days, I’ve learned a lot about the team, about my players.

“I’m trying to use all that I’ve seen, what I’ve experienced over the last days, to make sure that we are better as a team. It’s always a process when a new Manager comes in. I think now it’s my fifth week in here.

“In football, no one waits for you, so we’ll make sure that we’re competitive and that we grow every day, and that’s what we’re trying to do in training. For me it’s very important, the identity that we have as a team.

“That we’re a team that wants to attack, that wants to regain the ball quick, that wants to score the second goal after scoring. This will hopefully never change. The better we do this, I’m sure the fans will feel more proud about it. I’m learning every day.”

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