Matchday Minus Two Talking Points: Söyüncü, Ricardo & Quality Chelsea
Gerry Taggart and Matt Elliott – former centre-backs themselves – praised the efforts of Söyüncü following his impressive performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
Ricardo’s consistency, meanwhile, will be vital to City’s play this term, according to Taggart, while Elliott believes the Foxes have good reason to be optimistic about their 2019/20 Premier League campaign.
Trust in Söyüncü
Gerry Taggart said: “He showed good strength against Wolves and now that means that his team-mates can trust him. He’s earned that trust because of his performance on Sunday, and that will go a long way in Leicester City’s upcoming games, starting against Chelsea. Leicester came out of the game with a clean sheet and a point on the board.”
Onwards and upwards
Matt Elliott said: “They can genuinely look up rather than around them. It’s a big challenge to break into the top six because there are some very good sides up there. Leicester have the players and the manager to go onwards and upwards. You can feel that confidence from the players and they will be able to go toe-to-toe with the bigger sides.”
Consistent Ricardo
Gerry Taggart said: “Nothing seems to phase Ricardo whatsoever. He gives you a seven, eight or nine out of 10 every week, he’s so consistent. Brendan wants to play with wide players and Ricardo has the vision and ability to pull that off. Against Chelsea last year, for the Leicester goal, he showed awareness and he knows when to release the ball. He’s got the ability to show that little bit of trickery when he needs it, too.”
Exert some pressure
Matt Elliott said: “It’ll be interesting how Leicester approach the game. You’d expect them to soak up the attack and go on the counter, but if they’re trying to break into the top six, will they try and exert some pressure on the Chelsea defence?”
Patient Vardy
Gerry Taggart said: “Last season, away at Chelsea, it was a very competitive game and Leicester were always in it. It just boiled down to one chance, a run from Ricardo from deep, a slide-rule pass from James Maddison and the finish from Jamie Vardy. We know Jamie Vardy can be patient and we know he’ll still keep making those runs.”
Quality Chelsea
Matt Elliott said: “Both teams really wanted to win the Super Cup. Okay, Chelsea lost the game on penalties, but it confirms that they are a good side. It won’t do them a favour going there, it can’t be good for them, but they’re fit lads and there’s all sorts of modern methods for recovery. Considering the opposition, they coped with that situation. We saw that here in the last game of the season – Chelsea have quality throughout the squad, but Leicester will embrace that.”
City fans can tune into LCFC Radio from 1:30pm BST on Sunday for live build-up and free commentary of the Foxes’ Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (4:30pm BST kick-off).