Puel fights to keep Leicester job
Manager’s role in doubt as Leicester plan rebuild Frenchman criticised for pedestrian style of play
Claude Puel is fighting to save his job as Leicester City manager ahead of a substantial squad overhaul in the summer.
Puel’s position is becoming increasingly precarious after a run of four wins from 17 Premier League games and growing tension over his methods and management style.
With Leicester’s hopes of securing European football over, Puel is now coming under pressure and could leave at the end of the season.
The final four games of the season appear crucial for the 56-yearold, as he bids to show Leicester’s board he is the manager to take them forward.
The Daily Telegraph revealed this month how Puel was battling against unrest in the dressing room and it is understood that the atmosphere is still severely strained, with a number of disillusioned players.
Puel has frequently made changes to his team during the troubled second half to the season, frustrating players by allegedly refusing to give reasons why they have been dropped.
The style of play has become slow and pedestrian, with Leicester failing to beat Swansea, Stoke, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Southampton at home during a favourable run of fixtures.
There was widespread surprise when Puel came into the dressing room at half-time of last week’s 0-0 draw with Southampton allegedly to claim the players had produced a “perfect” performance.
Leicester’s owners spent £80million in the summer, signing Kelechi Iheanacho, Harry Maguire and Vicente Iborra.
It is believed European football was a target at the start of the season, while Burnley’s success with a significantly lower wage bill has increased the pressure on Puel. Leicester could even finish outside the top 10. As a result the board, who remain ambitious, view the season’s drab finish as underachievement, considering the club’s transfer spend and wage bill.
Leicester intend to spend big again this summer but Puel’s position is under threat and he may not survive.
Puel replaced Craig Shakespeare in October and made a solid start, picking up creditable wins against Tottenham, Newcastle and former club Southampton.
But since the 4-1 victory at St Mary’s, results have tailed off badly.
It is believed many players out of the team are now prepared to delay considering their options until Puel’s future is clearer.
Puel has defended the club’s finish to the season. “Don’t just think about results, this is a project for the club,” he said. “It’s a long-term process. It’s a success for us to finish in the top half of the table and [reach] two quarter-finals.”
Puel has confirmed he will hold talks with Robert Huth over the defender’s future. Huth’s contract expires at the end of the season.