A Tough Result, Says Cifuentes

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A Tough Result, Says Cifuentes

The performance in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Oxford United was not up to standard, Martí Cifuentes said post-match.

2026-01-24T18:45+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

24 Jan, 2026

A Tough Result, Says Cifuentes

The performance in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Oxford United was not up to standard, Martí Cifuentes said post-match.

Sam Jones

2026-01-24T18:45+00:00

A Tough Result, Says Cifuentes

The performance in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Oxford United was not up to standard, Martí Cifuentes said post-match.

Sam Jones

2026-01-24T18:45+00:00

A Tough Result, Says Cifuentes

The performance in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Oxford United was not up to standard, Martí Cifuentes said post-match.

Sam Jones

2026-01-24T18:45+00:00

A Tough Result, Says Cifuentes

The performance in Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Oxford United was not up to standard, Martí Cifuentes said post-match.

Sam Jones

2026-01-24T18:45+00:00

Oxford United claimed all three points at King Power Stadium on Saturday
Abdul Fatawu’s late goal came too late as the U’s earned a 2-1 success
Martí Cifuentes shared his post-match thoughts after a disappointing day
City sit 14th in the Sky Bet Championship following the defeat

Sam Long’s fourth-minute opener saw the visitors establish an early lead on Filbert Way, one which they doubled after the interval, when Mark Harris finished off an Oxford counter attack.

Abdul Fatawu did pull a goal back for the Foxes with six minutes remaining, but it was not enough to take anything from the game, extending our winless run to three Sky Bet Championship matches.

“It's a tough, tough result, a tough outcome,” City’s Manager said post-match. “Because we wanted to start the game on the front foot, and definitely when you concede after just four minutes, the whole thing becomes very difficult.

“I would say that I think Oxford did well to have a lot of players behind the ball. We didn’t move the ball well enough, quick enough, to attack the source that we wanted to.

“And in that sense I think that it was, obviously, in the first half, not great. After the second goal, we showed more urgency, but it was already too late. It's true that at the end of the game we had more pressure on the box, but still not what we wanted.

“The overall performance is not good enough, and that's where the frustration is.”

Attention will quickly turn to next Saturday’s clash against Charlton Athletic at King Power Stadium, another home fixture which offers an opportunity to return to form after a disappointing run of results.

The Spaniard continued: “I know the Championship and it's very important when you are not in the best dynamic that you need to react quickly as a group and make sure that you compete well, that you do the basics well.

“Today we obviously we conceded on two set plays. It's something that you never want to see in your team. So, we need to work really well to change the dynamic.”

Cifuentes also revealed that Ben Nelson’s half-time departure was an enforced one through injury, with Luke Thomas taking his place at left-back. Leicester were also without Oliver Skipp and Jordan James in the middle of the park due to injuries sustained in the midweek draw at Wrexham.

“It doesn't help the fact that we have important players out at the moment,” the 43-year-old added. “[Having] many injuries, that can affect, and that always plays a part.

“Today, Ben, in the half-time, was feeling his knee and we had to sub him, but the reality is that it's a frustrating night.”

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