Leicester City manager Claude Puel was frustrated with the timing of the goals his team conceded on Saturday evening as four strikes from Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero gave the leaders a 5-1 Premier League win at Etihad Stadium.
- Leicester City lose 5-1 to Manchester City at Etihad Stadium
- Raheem Sterling opened the scoring before Jamie Vardy equalised for the Foxes in the first half
- Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero scored four times after the break to claim all three points for the hosts
- City conceded early in each half and manager Claude Puel felt that gave his side too tough a task
The Foxes recovered well after Raheem Sterling put the hosts into a third minute lead, as Jamie Vardy fired a low shot beyond the goalkeeper to make it 1-1 going into the break. It was a goal that meant he became the first Premier League player to score against Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea in the same season.
Puel’s men again got off to a difficult start in the second half as Agüero got the home side back ahead, but this time Leicester weren’t able to respond, as the Argentine added another three goals to his tally – the last a thunderous long range shot off the underside of the bar.
The manager was frustrated at full time and acknowledged that the timing of the runaway league leaders’ goals at the start of each half made it an uphill battle for his team.
He said: “I think we conceded the first two goals at bad times. We had success to get back into the game through Jamie Vardy’s goal in the first half but we conceded a lot of chances and there were some fantastic saves by Kasper Schmeichel, but we conceded another goal at the start of the second half.
“They killed the game with the second goal and after it was tough for us. They had more confidence, found more quality and took the space. They played between our lines and we played against a good team, fantastic play and a fantastic striker in Sergio Aguero. He scored four fantastic goals today.
“It is tough for us to concede five goals. It was a big disappointment. We were a little lucky to come back in the first half and be on level terms. The second goal made it too difficult for us because they have the quality to play between our lines and recover the ball quickly, with strong pressing. It was too difficult for us to resist.”
