Evans’ Defensive Satisfaction
- Jonny Evans applauds Leicester City’s solid defensive performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night
- Leicester drew 0-0 with Wolves at Molineux Stadium, despite playing the final 14 minutes with 10 men
- Evans says City are looking forward to an exciting string of matches, with Manchester City up next on Saturday 22 February
The Foxes secured their ninth shutout of the 2019/20 Premier League season thanks to some spells of brilliant defending against Nuno Espírito Santo’s outfit.
Ending the game with 10 men after Hamza Choudhury was sent off with 14 minutes plus stoppage time to play, Evans credited City for their defensive determination.
He said: “[It’s] probably a good point in the circumstances, being down to 10 men and they put the pressure on us. It was a difficult game.
“They’re a good team here and I think you see their league position too, it’s quite strong in the league. [We’re] pleased probably overall with the point in the end.
“I think when you go down to 10 men, you’re always going to be under pressure. I suppose, looking back on it, seeing the game out like that, especially when they bring [Adama] Traoré on at the end, your legs are already tired.
Ricardo: It's A Good Point
Leicester City defender Ricardo Pereira was pleased to come away from Molineux with a point.
“You go down to 10 men and to bring him on, he really forces you to defend. I thought we did that well, we defended the box and we all think we can be pleased with that point, the performance, and a clean sheet.”
Evans says preparing for circumstances similar Friday night’s match means it’s much easier to cope with the pressure of playing with 10 men against a talented team like Wolves.
He continued: “There’s been plenty of times over the years where you work on that in training, [on] overloads. A lot of times in training, you’re working in maybe a back four or a back five against teams with a numerical advantage.
“A lot of the times, it can be taxing on the legs, but like I say, they’re things we work on. We practice for that and they’re enjoyable sometimes as a centre-back.
“Sometimes, a lot of people are expecting the other team to score, so you’re kind of fighting against the odds. It’s enjoyable when it comes off.”
Shortly before Choudhury’s dismissal, Wolves manager Espírito Santo introduced winger Adama Traoré, whose pace and skill can cause problems for any Premier League defence.
However, Leicester continued to defend well, and Evans praised several of the Club’s youngsters for the way they handled Traoré’s threat.
Evans said of Ben Chilwell: “He did well. I thought Madders (James Maddison) did well getting out to help him at times, and Barnesy (Harvey Barnes) really sort of helped double up.
“It’s a difficult job and whether there’s one or two around him, he’s that quick he can take the ball down the line and get crosses in. I thought, like I say, as a team, we defended that very well.”
City’s point at Wolves was their 50th in the Premier League this campaign, and Evans knows there’s still plenty of exciting games to contest between now and the end of the season.
“I think we’re always looking forward,” he added. “We’re in a great position, we’ve put ourselves in a great position, especially in the first half of the season.
“It gives us something to play for going into the last maybe 10 or 11 games and [there’s some] big matches coming up – the FA Cup as well.
“It’s going to be an exciting end for us and it’s one we’re looking forward to. Hopefully we’ll get in those Champions League spots, stay in there [and] push ahead.
“We’ve got Man City ahead of us in the league and we want to finish above them and get as close to Liverpool as we can.”