‘Be Ready’ – Cifuentes Previews Oxford Test

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‘Be Ready’ – Cifuentes Previews Oxford Test

Martí Cifuentes is expecting to come up against an Oxford United side on Saturday who are enjoying early life under a new management team.

2026-01-24T08:20+00:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

24 Jan, 2026

from LCFC Training Ground

‘Be Ready’ – Cifuentes Previews Oxford Test

Martí Cifuentes is expecting to come up against an Oxford United side on Saturday who are enjoying early life under a new management team.

Sam Stevens

2026-01-24T08:20+00:00

‘Be Ready’ – Cifuentes Previews Oxford Test

Martí Cifuentes is expecting to come up against an Oxford United side on Saturday who are enjoying early life under a new management team.

Sam Stevens

2026-01-24T08:20+00:00

‘Be Ready’ – Cifuentes Previews Oxford Test

Martí Cifuentes is expecting to come up against an Oxford United side on Saturday who are enjoying early life under a new management team.

Sam Stevens

2026-01-24T08:20+00:00

‘Be Ready’ – Cifuentes Previews Oxford Test

Martí Cifuentes is expecting to come up against an Oxford United side on Saturday who are enjoying early life under a new management team.

Sam Stevens

2026-01-24T08:20+00:00

We host Oxford United at King Power Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship
It's a 3pm GMT kick-off on Saturday afternoon
Martí Cifuentes says the U's approach the fixture on a high note
He also discusses the tactical shifts required due to injuries in midfield

Since former Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield took over the reins at Kassam Stadium, the U’s have picked up two draws, both 0-0 stalemates, with valuable clean sheets giving them optimism for the fight ahead for survival.

We also drew our last clash with the Oxfordshire outfit, 2-2, and ahead of their first-ever competitive visit to King Power Stadium, Manager Cifuentes addressed the media on Friday – also commenting on our injury latest.

Jordan James and Oliver Skipp, our two starting central midfielders over recent weeks, are expected to be absent on Saturday, giving opportunities to others in the squad.

“They’ve definitely [had a] bounce with this new manager,” he told reporters. “They’ve had two clean sheets in a row, which is very positive for them.

“I think they’re direct, they will push and try to get a good result here. We need to be ready for the challenge.

“Obviously we’re a bit thin in midfield. It’s always challenge. To lose, at the same time, in the same game, two important players, who were playing a lot of minutes lately, we need to adapt.

“It’s an opportunity for the players that I’m sure will step in and do a job. We have full trust in the players that are in the XI. It’s an opportunity for them to show they deserve those minutes.”

James is likely to be out for ‘some weeks’, frustrating news for Cifuentes and the Blue Army, with the Manager eager to praise his impact since joining on loan.

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“He has been brilliant for us,” Cifuentes added. “He’s scored goals, he’s given us energy and desire, and that’s something we really value.

“As I said from the beginning, he’s a player that we were really happy when he came.

“He was exactly the kind of profile that we wanted, in terms of someone young, someone that wanted to help Leicester to be back where we want to be back, and it’s an [big] loss. His whole contribution has been excellent and it’s a big loss.

“It was a big loss as well when we lost Aaron Ramsey as well. He fits this kind of profile as a player. But we need to accept it, we need to cope with it and find solutions. That’s my job as a manager.”

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