Ward: We Showed Our Tactical Nous
- Leicester City’s Danny Ward analyses Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City
- The Wales international conceded for the first time in four games
- Kevin De Bruyne scored the only goal of the match to earn Man City three points
Kevin De Bruyne’s sublime free-kick settled the Premier League fixture at King Power Stadium, but City had opportunities of their own, with Youri Tielemans rattling the crossbar with a thunderous volley.
However, Pep Guardiola’s side did enough to earn all three points, as the Foxes tasted defeat for the first time in four outings.
“There are definitely positives to take from that,” Ward told LCFC TV. “There’s maybe a difference of the Leicester people know with intensity and high pressing, we showed our tactical nous and that we can execute a game plan and play in a different way. It’s just a shame that one bit of brilliance has taken away a point for us today.
De Bruyne's Free-Kick Defeats Foxes
Kevin De Bruyne's sublime free-kick was the difference between Leicester City and Manchester City at King Power Stadium.
“We’ve used that system in previous seasons and had success against Man City. I remember the away game in lockdown and we came out as winners in the game last season around Christmas time.
“It wasn’t great in the first half but we switched to that formation and caused them real problems. It was the same sort of idea, to contain then, and then take the game as deep as we can. We know what quality we’ve got going forward, it’s just unfortunate that today it didn’t quite pay off for us.”
Defender Çağlar Söyüncü made his first start of the 2022/23 Premier League season for City, and Ward felt he performed well under the pressure of facing the champions.
Ward said: “It was a difficult game for him to come into, against one of the best teams in the world, but I thought he handled it really well.
“It’s difficult to come in and play when you’ve got no rhythm, but credit to Çağs. He defended really well and that’s something he can hopefully build on.”
Ward hadn’t conceded in their previous three matches, and it took something special from De Bruyne to beat the Wales international, who made a number of important stops.
“Yes,” said Ward after being asked about whether there were positives in Leicester’s defensive display. “Especially compared to the first part of the season, which we were really disappointed with.
“It’s step by step, it’s about building relationships as well and I think you can see that now with the boys at the back – Wout [Faes] slotting in, we seem to have this relationship of knowing where we are and putting our bodies on the line.”
Tielemans’ brilliant volley was the pick of City’s goalscoring opportunities, and Ward says on another day, the net would have bulged and the result could have been different.
“It was an unbelievable strike and on another day that may have hit the bar and gone in,” he said. “We know what quality he’s got, but we’ll go again.
“There were moments in the game where we had chances and created things. That’s just the way it is, and we’ve just got to carry on and take the positives from today into the game against Everton.”