Puel has ‘lost everyone’ and faces the sack
AND VARDY STICKS BOOT IN TOO
CLAUDE PUEL is facing a battle against the sack, with Leicester facing a testing Christmas schedule which could end his tenure. The Foxes travel to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today, before hosting Manchester City on St Stephen’s Day and Cardiff on December 29. Displays in those games are expected to determine his future. Losing to Neil Warnock’s side would be viewed as unpalatable.
The Leicester manager fought back from the brink of dismissal at the end of last season by beating Arsenal, but the deep problems of his reign have persisted.
One source told Sportsmail that Puel’s relationship with his players and staff has deteriorated to an alltime low. There are also issues over selections, style, and communication. There are allegations he has ‘lost everyone’.
Sportsmail understands a highprofile manager is being targeted as a possible successor. Brendan Rodgers has previously been discussed and is set to leave Celtic next summer. Rafa Benitez is another potential candidate, but his circumstances at Newcastle have settled.
Vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, known as Top, will make the call on Puel after assuming full responsibility following his father Vichai’s death in October. Deliberations over the Frenchman have been ongoing since the start of the campaign but were set well aside after the helicopter tragedy.
Puel conducted himself with great dignity in an incredibly difficult period and everyone at the club is still trying to come to terms with the loss of Vichai. But there is also concern at the continuing tensions and an awareness among the hierarchy that the situation is critical.
Multiple sources say that Puel cuts an isolated figure, declining to act on the advice of colleagues regarding training performances or fitness issues, to cause widespread disillusionment in a repeat of his Southampton reign.
His treatment of Adrien Silva and Andy King has caused confusion. Silva is a consistently high performer in training yet has been frozen out. Club legend King was not named in the Premier League squad. Neither made the 18 for the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester City.
Puel antagonised fans by picking a weakened side despite being three matches from Wembley. James Maddison and Marc Albrighton started on the bench, while Jamie Vardy was left out.
Vardy, who was returning from a groin injury, played for 90 minutes at Crystal Palace three days earlier despite medical advice which recommended an hour. And Puel’s slower style of buildup play has also frustrated fans.
Vardy, who is expected to start at Stamford Bridge, told Sky Sports News yesterday that the approach did not suit his game.
‘Does it? No. But is that down to me to adapt to it? Yes,’ he said. ‘It does get a bit frustrating but we are transitioning into a different style of play,’ he added.
Results would cover gripes, but these have declined, with just two victories in 10 matches. For a club of Leicester’s aspirations, it is an alarming tally.