A Collective Effort, Says Maresca

- Enzo Maresca wins the first Manager of the Month for 2023/24
- The Italian received his Sky Bet Championship award on Friday
- It was the reward for winning all four of Leicester City’s games in August
- He spoke about the need for improvement to progress further this season

The Italian steered Leicester City to their best-ever start to a season, including four consecutive league wins in the month of August, to propel the Foxes into the upper echelons of the Sky Bet Championship standings.

Reflecting on his achievement, which was announced on Friday morning, Maresca praised how the squad have taken to his methods and ideas in such a short space of time, since his arrival in the summer.

“I’m very happy,” the 43-year-old began. “But as happens in football, you never reach something yourself, you need people in behind. First of all, the players, they are the most important and then the backroom staff for sure.

“We started two months ago - one month for the pre-season and one month for the official competition. We started in the right way in terms of results and the way that we play. For sure, there are many things to do to improve, 100 per cent, but this is the right way.

“I’m happy because of the results, because they are important, but also for the way that we try to play. Thinking that we just started two months ago, you can see the identity of the team - that is clear and for me that was the main target at the beginning of the season.”

Although pleased to receive the accolade, he acknowledged that much more work is to come in order to progress. City held the only 100 per cent record in the division prior to last weekend’s narrow defeat at home to Hull City, demonstrating the tough nature of the Championship.

The Manager explained: “Especially in the last third we need to improve and add things because our seven official games all show that we arrive quite easy in the last third but then because of the choice or because we want to finish the action soon, we are wrong in some choices.

“But when we are there, we need to be patient and find the right solution. But it is something for sure that we are going to improve. I like to be focused in the way that we play and the way that we can improve, but sometimes it’s also good to see what is happening around us.

“And you see that all the clubs and all the teams struggle because it’s never easy to win games, it’s always difficult, especially today when everyone can analyse the opponent to see what they do.”

Now that the transfer window is closed, with Leicester adding nine new faces to the squad, full concentration can be on the pitch, as a gruelling season continues. The backing of the Blue Army, both home and away, can be crucial to any success City achieve, Maresca believes.

“It’s difficult, especially for the players,” he added. “Because when there are noises, they struggle to be focused. Finally, everything is closed now and it is much better. In this moment, the mood is good. We need to continue with that.

“There will be moments when we need to be mentally strong, because as you can see, the Championship is so long with 46 games. I’m very grateful (for the fans) because they are always there with us.

“At the same time, I can see that they are making an effort to understand the way that we want to play, even if sometimes I can understand that they struggle to see it. But it’s important that they support us in every moment and they learn to be patient in what the team is trying to do.”