'Work Hard For Each Other' – Smith's Programme Interview
- Dean Smith has spoken to CITY, the official Leicester City programme, this week
- The new Foxes Manager will take charge of his first home match at the Club on Saturday
- Wolverhampton Wanderers are the visitors to King Power Stadium (3pm BST kick-off)
- Smith says he will demand hard work and togetherness from his players
The 52-year-old has been tasked with keeping the Foxes in the Premier League – an assignment which began last week. His debut in charge was a tough one, away at Pep Guardiola’s imperious champions, Manchester City. There were signs of encouragement in the latter moments of that 3-1 reverse at Etihad Stadium – the Foxes took the game to Man City and had real chances.
With just seven matches to go, though, Leicester urgently need points. They’re two adrift of safety, sat in 19th place – but their run-in offers hope.
Saturday’s opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers are also in the fight for survival – as are Tuesday’s away foes Leeds United, and the team City host a week on Monday, Everton. ‘Six-pointers’ may be cliché, but these are enormous fixtures for the Foxes. Ahead of a crucial period in the Football Club’s season, Smith spoke to CITY – the official LCFC programme – to talk it through.
"Wolves are a very improved team," he said this week. "They’ve just had some really good results, beating Chelsea and Brentford. They look really well organised. Diego Costa up front is working really hard for them as well. This is one of those games where we have to concentrate on ourselves and how we can go and hurt the opposition.
"We need to also be organised behind the ball. We’ve been working on that this week and hopefully that comes to fruition against Wolves. A lot of the players have been through a lot at the Football Club already.
"They will have managed occasions before, but probably not at this end of the league table. I have no doubts that they can manage it. We’ve spoken about that, about emotional control and sticking to the game plan. Players will make mistakes, so be a good team-mate. Look after anyone who does make a mistake. They’re the sort of messages that we’re giving.
"We’ll all work hard together. When we haven’t got the ball, we all have to shift together and work together. When we have got the ball, we have to give each other options and present good passes to each other. It’s all about being a good team-mate."
Smith knows Leicester have real quality in the squad. To allow that to shine, though, they must remain as one and dig in together during the tougher moments of games.
Asked what he demands from his players, Smith replied: "Work hard for each other. That’s the biggest thing. We’ve got stardust within the team that can go and create and score, but you need to work hard for each other. That’s the key to it. You have a squad of 25 players and it’s like a classroom. You’re not all going to get on sometimes, but you have to work hard for each other. That’s key to what we want here."
Fans can pick up their programme and read this interview with Dean Smith in full at King Power Stadium on Saturday.