Puel Intent On Turning Draws Into Wins

First Team
02 Mar 2018
2 Minutes
Claude Puel hopes the frustration of Leicester City’s last two home fixtures will spur them to victory over AFC Bournemouth at King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm GMT kick-off).

- Leicester City manager Claude Puel spoke to the national media on Thursday afternoon
- The Frenchman was speaking ahead of City's clash with AFC Bournemouth on Saturday (3pm kick-off)
- City are determined to win on home soil after two successive draws, Puel says

The Foxes have been held to successive 1-1 home draws with Swansea City and Stoke City in recent weeks despite, on both occasions, creating a plentiful supply of opportunities.

With Eddie Howe’s Cherries outfit next up in the Premier League, Puel has challenged his side to use their disappointment as extra motivation on Filbert Way this weekend.

“I think, of course, we need to correct this, to put it right in the next game,” he said on Thursday. “It was, I think, good in January, but it was more difficult in February.

“It’s important to keep it always on the right track. The last game was disappointing and a frustration but we need to continue this work because we need more consistency in our play.

“We started very well in the last game but we were napping. We know a lot of teams come here with a strong defensive unit, to wait and look for a counter attack.

“We needed to push them, to put them under pressure, and to keep a good consistency and intensity. It was a good second half, of course, with a lot of chances and possibilities to win.”

Since the Club was promoted in 2014, they have lifted the Premier League title and competed in the UEFA Champions League, but they have been unable to defeat Bournemouth.

Across five top flight encounters, the Cherries have frustrated City at every turn. On Saturday, Puel wants his side to put that right with an expressive, winning display.

“They play in the same part of the table as us, they play good football, on the floor with a good spirit but also a good character,” the Frenchman added.

The last game was disappointing and a frustration but we need to continue this work because we need more consistency in our play.

Claude Puel

“For example, they were leading against Stoke until the end and they made a success at the end. They were leading 2-0 against Newcastle at home and they finished it with a draw.

“They beat Chelsea away, 3-0. All of these are good results, it shows the quality of this team, but also the character and the personality. We will need to have a better character and personality to have a good result.”