‘That’s Football’ - Maresca’s Reaction

- Leicester City drew 1-1 with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Boxing Day
- Stephy Mavididi opened the scoring before a cruel injury-time own goal levelled it up
- Manager Enzo Maresca took the positives away from his side’s performance in East Anglia
- The Foxes remain six points clear at the top of the Sky Bet Championship table

The Foxes looked set to be taking all three points back to the East Midlands before Sam Morsy’s 93rd-minute strike took two deflections on its way past Mads Hermansen to earn Town a share of the spoils.

Remaining six points ahead of the Tractor Boys at the top of the Sky Bet Championship, City’s Manager is more than satisfied with his team’s recent return, despite the disappointment of conceding late on in East Anglia.

“It was a tough end,” he admitted after full-time at Portman Road. “Especially because when you are so close to winning the game, it’s a shame. But that’s football. They (the players) were good and we did well, for me, for probably 70-75 minutes.

“We had around half an hour which was very good in the second half. We conceded a little bit of control in the game in the last 10-15 minutes and we need to improve on that. But at the same time, overall, I’m very happy with the effort they gave and the situation because to play every three days with the same intensity, it’s difficult for them.

“Especially in this moment, out of the last seven games, we have won five. We were probably a little bit tired and the opponent also try to use their weapons to win the game. This is a tough, tough team, because they are doing very well, so it’s not easy to come here and win the game. It’s difficult but we keep going.”

After Stephy Mavididi’s fine finish broke the deadlock, City were left ruing missed opportunities and decisions which did not go in their favour. They have, however, become the first side to head to Portman Road this season and concede fewer than two goals, showing defensive steel to keep the home side at bay for the majority of the contest.

“It was a very good goal,” Maresca reflected. “In the first half I think we had four or five more moments we created very similar to the goal, but we didn’t score. We need to be more clinical. Also in the second half, the penalty we didn’t get is quite clear. 

“We defended very well off the ball, but not only at the end, our pressing was very good. In the first half we created two or three chances from our pressing. We are very happy.

“We know we still have many games but as we said, we cannot win every game because this is not real. We always try to win games. We tried tonight but at the same time, they are working hard and the effort has been huge.”