‘Look At Ourselves’ – Cifuentes’ M69 Derby Thoughts

Next Match | Saturday 18 April Sat 18 Apr

POR

(A)

00 D

22 H

57 M

01 S

Interviews & Features

Heritage

Photos

‘Look At Ourselves’ – Cifuentes’ M69 Derby Thoughts

Martí Cifuentes says there is always a requirement to deliver in games against Coventry City, with the Foxes heading down the M69 to resume the rivalry.

2026-01-16T09:00+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

16 Jan, 2026

‘Look At Ourselves’ – Cifuentes’ M69 Derby Thoughts

Martí Cifuentes says there is always a requirement to deliver in games against Coventry City, with the Foxes heading down the M69 to resume the rivalry.

Sam Jones

2026-01-16T09:00+00:00

‘Look At Ourselves’ – Cifuentes’ M69 Derby Thoughts

Martí Cifuentes says there is always a requirement to deliver in games against Coventry City, with the Foxes heading down the M69 to resume the rivalry.

Sam Jones

2026-01-16T09:00+00:00

‘Look At Ourselves’ – Cifuentes’ M69 Derby Thoughts

Martí Cifuentes says there is always a requirement to deliver in games against Coventry City, with the Foxes heading down the M69 to resume the rivalry.

Sam Jones

2026-01-16T09:00+00:00

‘Look At Ourselves’ – Cifuentes’ M69 Derby Thoughts

Martí Cifuentes says there is always a requirement to deliver in games against Coventry City, with the Foxes heading down the M69 to resume the rivalry.

Sam Jones

2026-01-16T09:00+00:00

Coventry Building Society Arena will host the latest instalment of the derby, with Saturday’s 12:30pm GMT kick-off a second taste of the fierce encounter for Cifuentes.

Speaking in his pre-match briefing with the media on Thursday, the Manager outlined how his side plans to attack the game and what it means for the Blue Army to taste success in these fixtures.

‘Build some momentum’

Addressing the media in Seagrave.

Having earned consecutive victories over West Bromwich Albion in the league and then Cheltenham Town in the Emirates FA Cup, Cifuentes aims to put the building blocks in place for a more sustained run of positive results, with focus on our own game when coming up against the league leaders this weekend.

The 43-year-old told journalists: “We now have two wins in a row and we want to try and build some momentum. We will respect the opponent, their position and what Coventry have done this season, but we definitely go there with the intention to deliver a very good performance, looking at ourselves and what things we need to do well.

“Understanding that it’s about us improving the things we are working on, it will be very important that we keep to the level we want to achieve for 90 minutes, to make sure that we don’t give them momentum that they can use, to control the set plays and put the game in our sight.

“But as well, that we compete well for the whole game with our tools, our skills, because we know that we can make a difference in the scenarios that we can excel in.”

‘They built an identity’

The man overseeing an impressive season to date for the Sky Blues.

A flying start to the campaign, including a run of 11 wins in 12 matches, saw the Sky Blues lead the way early on and although form has slightly faltered of late, picking up maximum points in just two of their last eight league encounters, Frank Lampard’s side continue to sit at the Championship’s summit.

“In the Championship it is a very competitive league in the sense that there is no big difference,” Cifuentes explained. “Small margins can define a game and to get the number of points that they’ve got, credit to them.

“They started the season in an amazing level, picking up a lot of points in games. Perhaps the last results have not been as excellent as they were in the beginning of the season, but it’s very difficult to keep that rhythm for 46 games. All the teams will go through good moments and more difficult moments.

“They are in the position they are because they deserve to be there. I think that shows with quite a stable group of players, they know each other for at least a couple of seasons playing together, with a manager who has been there for more than one season, they have built an identity.

“It is very clear with the way they attack, the role that [Matt] Grimes has in the build-up is very important with the way they transition and they are good in set plays. It’s a team who compete really well at Championship level.”

‘Pressure always on’

The earlier season battle with Coventry ended in a goalless stalemate.

Leicester, unbeaten in local derby clashes so far this term, picked up three points against Derby County both at home and away, having drawn 0-0 with Saturday’s opponents earlier in the campaign.

Supporter expectations will, and should, remain high, the Manager explained, with plenty of areas to improve on as we move into the final 20 games of the season sitting just inside the top half of the table.

“We want to give a good result to our fans,” the Spaniard stated. “We have the memories of the last game we played against them at home. I think it was quite a good performance against a team that is obviously doing really well.

“These kind of games help to create a stronger connection with the fans so are very important. I understand that this is a game which is a bit mixed in terms of feelings from the fans.

“Some appreciate the double win against Derby, which was important, and of course some of them will be very eager and others see the Forest game as the big one, obviously. It’s always an extra edge for us to try and give them those three points.

“Obviously Leicester is a big club and we cannot forget about the expectations and the fact that the pressure should always be on. I’m the first one to be demanding - with myself, and we need to improve. No matter the situation, you always need to deliver.

“We’re going to win hopefully many games, we’re going to lose hopefully not many, but for me, the most important thing is that the fans feel engaged with this and that’s what we’re trying to communicate.”

LATEST HEADLINES

From The Archives - Arthur Chandler’s Shirt Crests Our all-time record goalscorer, Arthur Chandler, began his professional career at Queens Park Rangers in September 1920.

2 Hours 52 Mins Ago

Rowett: James & Ramsey Assessed Pre-Pompey Gary Rowett revealed that Jordan James and Aaron Ramsey are being monitored prior to our trip to Portsmouth.

22 Hours 57 Mins Ago

Pompey Clash Live On Foxes Hub We're at Fratton Park this Saturday lunchtime - here's how to follow the action across Foxes Hub.

16 Apr, 2026

McSweeney ‘Really Pleased’ With Leeds Triumph Leon McSweeney believes our Under-21s were rewarded for a high level of performance produced during the 3-2 success over Leeds United on Monday.

15 Apr, 2026