Matchday Live Talking Points: Tielemans Sparkles, City In Control & Momentum Builds
Following a first half stalemate, the Foxes took control after the break following goals from Harry Maguire, Kelechi Iheanacho and Hamza Choudhury in Cambridgeshire.
City have now won all three of their pre-season fixtures so far this summer after overcoming Scunthorpe United and Cheltenham Town earlier this month.
Speaking during LCFC TV's live coverage - which continues this weekend - Elliott and Taggart selected some of the most significant headlines from Abbey Stadium.
Tielemans shines again
Matt Elliott: “He’s becoming a major figure for Leicester City. Albeit, it’s only pre-season, but everything went through him and [Papy] Mendy initially. In advanced areas, when you’re looking for that cutting through-ball, it’s [Youri] Tielemans every time, going wide or central. He’s got a lot of class on the ball and he knows how to pick the sort of ball other people on the pitch might not be able to spot. That man Tielemans is the one who’s always making the crucial, key passes.”
Keeping the pressure on
Gerry Taggart said: “They controlled the game from the first whistle. They probably even created more chances in the first half than they did in the second half, but they applied the pressure, they kept the pressure on, and sure enough the goals started to come. By then, they could have had two or three more. Brendan Rodgers will be over the moon with what he has seen in this game. Not just because of the goals they have scored, but also the way Leicester City controlled the game and regained possession after they lost the ball.”
Dominant in possession
Matt Elliott said: “They had a lot of possession didn’t they? It was a little bit at a leisurely pace at times, but they upped the ante every now and then, particularly at the end, and Cambridge were constantly under pressure for long spells of the match. They were packed into their own defensive penalty area. In that first half, they were blocking everything and the goalkeeper was having a brilliant game personally, but Leicester’s quality showed through. Being able to keep the ball so well will definitely count Leicester City in good stead.”
Momentum is building
Gerry Taggart: “Momentum is everything. Yes, it’s only a pre-season friendly, but if you look at Brendan Rodgers going up to the crowd and clapping the fans… he knows how important these games are for building momentum. The beginning of the new season is going to be massive. It’s a massive season for clubs like Leicester City… those teams that want to break into the top, elite level of the Premier League. It’s a big season for Leicester City and this momentum is very, very important indeed.”
Supporters can watch live coverage of Leicester City's trip to Stoke City on Saturday, including in-vision updates from Rotherham United, from 2:30pm BST for free on LCFC TV.