Puel: My Players Gave Their Best
- Claude Puel says Leicester City showed their togetherness against Manchester City on Tuesday
- The Foxes were beaten 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at King Power Stadium
- Marc Albrighton scored for City 17 minutes from time
The Foxes fell a goal behind on 14 minutes, when Kevin De Bruyne found the bottom corner from 20 yards out to give the visiting side the lead.
However, substitute Marc Albrighton’s brilliantly-taken goal levelled matters with 17 minutes to play, sending the tie to a shootout.
Harry Maguire scored City’s first, but Christian Fuchs missed from 12 yards and Arijanet Muric denied Çağlar Söyüncü and James Maddison as Pep Guardiola’s men won 3-1 on penalties.
“Of course, it’s a disappointment,” Puel told LCFC TV at the full-time whistle. “It’s the second time after last season against the same opponent. We lost with the lottery of penalties and it’s harsh.
“We have a good feeling like the one before in the League Cup, but I think it’s disappointing because we played a complete game with a good structure, good organisation and good performance in the first half.
“The details to allow us to make a better counter-attack... it was a shame to concede this goal without conceding a chance. After, we came back in the second half with more confidence. We corrected some details at half-time and we played well in the second half.
“We deserved to come back in the game. We were close to this team. We came back and perhaps we could have won at the end if we were a little more clinical in some situations, but I praise our game.
“Of course, I’m disappointed for my players because they gave their best. They worked hard on the pitch and showed togetherness. I think we had quality.
“Sometimes, we played under pressure in the first half, but we had good organisation and in the second half we played with more quality, with more confidence. Step by step, we’re improving our play.”
Puel highlighted some of City’s flowing moves on Filbert Way, and emphasised his pride after they were narrowly beaten by current Premier League and Carabao Cup holders Man City.
“I think we kept our good organisation from the first half,” he added. “We had some good moves and some quality, with more pressing together.
“We played some good balls with some good moves and we just lacked the last passes to give the right ball.
“It was the details, and we know the lottery of penalties. We didn’t manage this opportunity, but I’m proud about our quality and about the hard work my players can do on the pitch.”