‘Boring’ Puel’s point to make

LEICESTER manager Claude Puel believes Southampton fans were crazy to call him boring.

Puel, axed this summer despite leading the Saints to an eighth-place finish and a first major cup final for 14 years, returns to St Mary’s tonight dismissing accusations by their fans that his teams are defensive.

“Other people decided to make comments about our play, about results or other things,” said Puel, right.

“But it’s important to keep your way and just to continue your work. Afterwards, it’s for other people to criticise or be positive or negative.

“For me it’s always the same – to try to score more goals, to play football, to attack together and to have good chances to score.

“It’s important for me to always give my best for the club and I gave my best for Southampton.”

Puel returned to the Premier League in October with Leicester, who have scored 11 goals and collected 14 points from his seven games in charge.

He showed his emotion in the dugout during Saturday’s 3-2 win at Newcastle and Puel says his personality changes on the touchline.

He said: “On the pitch and off the pitch I am a different guy. On the pitch I can be animated, but afterwards I’m calm and it’s important always to be calm to have good analysis.”

Sofiane Boufal is out to ruin Puel’s return after saying the Premier League is yet to see the best of him.

Puel signed Boufal for Southampton at the start of last season in a then club record £17million deal but the mercurial Moroccan has so far failed to live up to his price tag.

Boufal said: “I have more confidence and I feel fitter. The most difficult period has gone and I look forward to the future.”