Extra-Time Talking Points: Stylish In Europe & Defensive Solutions
- Extra-Time provides an analysis of Leicester City’s 1-0 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Matt Elliott and Iwan Roberts’ opinions complimented City’s sixth-straight win in all competitions
- Jamie Vardy scored his ninth goal in just eight 2020/21 appearances
The Foxes’ battling display at King Power Stadium on Sunday yielded another three points thanks to Jamie Vardy’s first-half penalty against Nuno Espírito Santo’s talented outfit.
Their sixth successive triumph in all competitions saw them move top of the Premier League standings after gameweek eight, and that prompted some encouraging words from former Foxes Matt Elliott and Iwan Roberts.
Contrasting results on home soil
Iwan Roberts said: “If you look back at the West Ham performance, it’s chalk and cheese compared to this one going into this international break. We’re on the back of six consecutive wins. It was a good home win on Sunday, putting aside the defeats by West Ham and Aston Villa. Top of the league after eight games, it’s magnificent!”
Stylish in Europe
Matt Elliott said: “It’s not bad going at all. You’re hoping Leicester can extend that situation for as long as possible. We’re looking good on the European front, for sure. A lot of people were saying that Braga would be the stiffest challenge and we saw what happened there. We saw them off in fine style and I’m looking forward to the away fixture, where they can hopefully achieve qualification as early as possible. That gives them a little bit of flexibility in resting one or two key players.”
City’s defensive solutions
Iwan Roberts: “It’s a completely new back four, really, because of injuries. Jonny Evans has missed a couple of games, Çağlar Söyüncü has been out for a few weeks, there’s no Ricardo Pereira. Timothy Castagne has come in and he’s been magnificent. James Justin has come in and Wesley Fofana, whatever fee was paid, is worth every penny. He’s been top, top class.”
Moving forward as a club
Matt Elliott said: “Even with Leicester winning the league a few years ago, it’s still a developing club and you’ve got to take that over time. You can see the inner workings and how they’re being mapped out to go forward. You can see progression in all aspects of the Club, pretty much – not just the men’s first team, but the structure of the Academy, the training ground, the women’s team. It’s all moving forward.”
Strength & quality
Iwan Roberts said: “Brendan [Rodgers] looked at this season, with the Europa League, yes they’re out of the League Cup after that loss to Arsenal, but he built a squad that could cope with games thick and fast in a nine-month season. I look at the quality, and the strength in depth, and they could pick two teams if they wanted to. Every single one of those players is going to be needed at some stage.”
A different challenge
Matt Elliott said: “It’s a different challenge for managers, coaches and their staff to constantly assess the fitness of the players, and their capabilities. So far, Leicester seem to have got it down to a tee, don’t they, in terms of rotating and giving players a certain amount of time in one game and then taking them off and giving them a rest.”