City's Game Management Improving, Says Elliott

First Team
11 Sep 2019
3 Minutes
Leicester City's ability to adapt to various challenges during individual matches is attested by their early standing in the Premier League's top four, says former Foxes captain Matt Elliott.

- Former Leicester City captain Matt Elliott reviews the Foxes' start to the 2019/20 campaign
- Elliott says City have found a way to manage games and exert control over their opposition in matches
- Brendan Rodgers' men sit third in the table before visiting Manchester United on Saturday (3pm BST kick-off)
- Live coverage of Saturday's showdown at Old Trafford is available on LCFC Radio from 12pm BST

Ahead of what may be their toughest challenge of the campaign so far, away at Manchester United on Saturday, City are currently sat in third place in the Premier League table.

Following successive draws with Wolves and Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers' men have sealed safe passage in the Carabao Cup and defeated both Sheffield United and AFC Bournemouth so far.

Elliott, the Club's League Cup-winning skipper in 2000, has watched on delightedly as the Foxes live up to their pre-season expectations to improve upon their 2018/19 league standing.

"It’s been an unbelievable start really," Elliott told LCFC.com this week. "Although, it’s not that surprising when you look at the quality which has been assembled at the Football Club.

"With the young players coming through and the players who were already at the Club, it’s a good mix. People expected them to start brightly and they’ve managed to do that.

"They’ve got a tough game coming up against Manchester United, but it’s highly encouraging to say the least, but as I say, it’s not that surprising.

"The expectancy was there. Especially with the manager, people have looked at Leicester and people are speaking in glowing terms about Leicester City now. 

"They were doing it before a ball had been kicked and that’s a testament to where Leicester are at now at this moment in time."

With just four games gone, however, Elliott is keen to stress that the biggest test for Leicester will be maintaining their form over the weeks to come.

Leicester seem to have much more control in the games than they did before. They have a greater percentage of play, they look more composed, and they are more controlled.

Matt Elliott

After Saturday's trip to Manchester, City tackle Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium, before a Carabao Cup tie at Luton Town, and a return to Filbert Way to face Newcastle United.

"There’s a lot of work to sustain it, but it’s been a fantastic start," he continued. "Individual players have produced the goods and, in isolation, the [Jamie] Vardy and [Harvey] Barnes goals were exceptional.

"That’s what you’d expect from Leicester City players these days. Those goals stick in your mind, of course, but the quality of the play in different phases looks really confident."

City's ability to tweak their tactical stratagem to matches in-play has also caught Elliott's eye, with Leicester controlling games with a fluid, yet structured, approach.

"If one way doesn’t work, they’ll find another, and if that doesn’t work, they’ll find another," the former Scotland centre-back continued. "They’ve got different threats within the team.

"Vardy is obviously at the head of that, but the amount of players which has been used in an attacking sense is really telling. 

"They’ve all performed really capably and it’s wonderful that Rodgers has got those options. More exciting for me is that there’s more to come yet. I don’t think they’ve hit full steam.

"Leicester seem to have much more control in the games than they did before. They have a greater percentage of play, they look more composed, and they are more controlled."