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Claude Puel makes impassioned defence of Leicester record and tells critics to take reality check
Claude Puel told his Leicester City critics to face “the truth” as he launched an impassioned defence of his under-fire reign.
Puel claimed he is singled out for criticism ahead of bigger-spending, less successful managers and hit back at suggestions his dour media persona is partly to blame for the mounting pressure on his position.
Puel again defended his decision to make seven changes to his team for last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Newport County, which came less than a month after another much-changed line-up lost an EFL Cup quarter-final to Manchester City.
His side are seventh in the table but persistent criticism from fans over his style of play, allied to clashes with senior players, have left his position under scrutiny and defeat by his former club Southampton on Saturday could spell further trouble with in-form Wolves, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham their next four opponents.
“To finish seventh in the first half season with all problems we have had is a very good performance,” said Puel, who is 13-8 favourite with bookmakers to be the next Premier League manager to leave his position.
“If people believe we have to be sixth - that that is our place - that is not the truth. It’s not possible.
“Eleven Premier League teams made more changes than us [in the Cup]. I didn’t hear anything about this. All the time there is speculation about difficulties around this club.”
Puel spoke to the media for more than an hour on Friday and brushed off talk of his media image being a problem.
“Ah, the image,” said Puel. “I saw in the past a lotoif images with different managers.
“They had a fantastic image. But now their team plays in the Championship.
“The most important thing is not to be spectacular on the bench, it’s to try to perform on the pitch and develop a club and to have good consistency to compete and to make progress and keep ambition, just this.”