The Idea's Getting Better, Says Maresca
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed Leicester City to a 1-0 win at Northampton Town
- Manager Enzo Maresca was encouraged by tactical elements of the performance
- He explained some of the key messages he's passed onto his new players
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's header was the only goal of the game at Sixfields Stadium, City's second friendly match of the summer. Leicester's play was fluid, with players switching positions and their shape changing just as often too.
The Italian says work on Leicester's playing strategy is a work in progress but is nonetheless pleased with the application of the players. There was much for the over 3,000 Foxes fans to be excited by in the performance on Saturday.
"I think in this moment it’s important to grow and to see the idea getting better," Maresca said during a live broadcast of the game on Foxes Hub. "If you can do that and win the game, it’s much better. It’s day-by-day work. We need to add more things to improve, but you can only do that by working. I think today the players showed they are happy with the idea."
The former Parma manager also offered some insight into his thinking, explaining why his side would sometimes pack the midfield, or overload the opposition penalty area.
"The idea is to have one more player inside," he added. "Sometimes the opponent won’t allow it because they go man to man and are aggressive so we have to find different solutions, sometimes we might go direct.
"The idea also is to have players like Dennis [Praet] and Kiernan [Dewsbury-Hall] arrive into the box, but with wingers and strikers and attacking players… four or five players in the box.
"It’s always better when you have more players in the box. Something will happen. I said from the first day, you need people in the box. Otherwise, it becomes difficult with only one or two players. The opponent [will] have four or five defenders."