That Intensity Is What We’re All About, Says Maddison

- Leicester City secured a 3-1 victory over Legia Warsaw on Thursday
- James Maddison was among the goals for the Foxes on a memorable evening
- City's No.10 was pleased by the nature of the home side's attacking display early on
- He also discusses his first-half goal, a sublime curled effort inside the area

After Patson Daka's early opener, it was two for the Foxes when Maddison skipped inside the area and curled a fine finish into the corner after just 21 minutes. The visitors hit back through Filip Mladenovic shortly afterwards, but Wilfred Ndidi's header restored a two-goal lead before the interval. 

It's a three points which propels Leicester to the top of Group C with just one game to play and Maddison is pleased they can approach that visit to Napoli next month knowing their qualification fate is in their own hands. 

"It was a great European night," City's No.10 told LCFC TV. "Obviously, it was quite a strange dynamic being bottom of the group, but you win and then you rocket to the top of the group. It obviously shows all the teams in our group haven’t been able to really run away with it.

"It’s quite a tight group and a little bit up and down for all teams in the group stage. We’re in a great position, top of the group with one game to go. Even though you go into every game trying to win, when you know it’s in your hands and if you win, you secure that top spot, if leaves you in a good place.

"It’s a great night. A great performance from the team, especially in the first half. That real quick start, that intensity, is what we’re all about. We’re really happy with that."

The nature of Leicester's start to the game, which put the game beyond the Polish visitors early on, was particularly encouraging for Maddison. In the second half, the Foxes remained professional to see out an essential victory in European competition.

"In any game, scoring early is important and even though we haven’t been on the best run of form of late, nor have they," he added. "I think they’ve lost seven of their last eight in the league. When you hear that, you know their confidence is going to be on the floor.

"A quick start was very important because then, after 10 minutes, they’re looking around thinking: 'Wow, we’re really up against it now'.

"The two early goals really helped. The second half was just about seeing it out I think. In the Europa League, with there being five subs, there’s a lot of stops and starts in the second half. It’s then just about game management and we saw the game out as I said."

Maddison added another left-footed stunner to his collection at the Club and he revealed one of the reasons why he is so lethal with that side. Recalling his childhood, the roots of that talent go back to hours spent on fields with his father - and it continues to pay dividends today.

"I always like scoring with my left foot, just because as a kid, whenever I used to play in the garden, or down the local park, my old man would give me double goals for my left foot!" Maddison laughed. "I always used to practice them and I’m quite comfortable off my left.

"I like to see my left footed ones go in. He always claims the assist for my left-footed goals! It was a nice one-two with Ademola [Lookman]. Good awareness from Ade, because he saw the cutback. As a winger, sometimes their first thought is to whip it in, but he saw the little reverse cutback.

"There were a lot of bodies in front of me, so I thought, a little Cruyff [turn] to shift it back onto my left and it’s just about getting a good contact on it. Like I said, I’m comfortable on my left, I managed to do that, and it went flying past the goalkeeper."

The England midfielder was withdrawn in the second half as a precaution after a heavy challenge, but Maddison considers such treatment as a compliment from opposition defenders. 

"That’s when I know I’m playing well," he explained. "The worst one was in the second half, I got a bit of a dead leg, but that’s part and parcel. That means I know I’m playing well if I’m getting a lot of fouls and rough treatment. It’s part of the game that I enjoy."