Puel Expects Competitive Brighton Encounter

- Leicester City manager Claude Puel previews Saturday's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion (3pm kick-off)
- The Foxes know they could climb to seventh in the Premier League with a victory
- Brighton will be a 'tough' opponent after winning four games in a row at home, Puel says
- The Frenchman wants to see confidence in his side's performance at AMEX Stadium at the weekend

The Seagulls have won their last four home matches at AMEX Stadium, a run of form which has opened up a six-point cushion above the bottom three in the Premier League table.

Puel’s Foxes, meanwhile, could strengthen their chances of seizing seventh place from Burnley with a victory on the south coast, but the Frenchman knows it will be tough.

“I think now they have secured their position in the table,” Puel told the national media at King Power Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

“They play in the middle of the table. Now they can play with freedom, with quality, and just thinking about their play, not about their safety. I think it will be a dangerous team.

“I think their manager has made a good work, strong work, with his team. They play football, they keep always a good structure, a good solidity.

“It is always difficult to play against this team with good pressing and good balance between open play and solidity, with a strong defensive unit.

Gallery 29 Mar 2018

First Team Training: Brighton

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“It will be a tough game against a team with confidence but it is the same thing with us. We play now after the international break but our last two games were two good performances.”

While expressing respect for Brighton’s recent achievements, Puel insists that City have enough firepower to secure an 11th Premier League success this season.

“Always, we need to have a collective response about an opponent, we expect all opponents have good players, good attributes, good options and good confidence,” he continued.

“We have also good defenders, a good midfield, and also a good attacking players.

“I have confidence in my squad to give their best against a good opponent and time will tell if we can give a good response on Saturday.”