Following his team’s 1-0 loss to Leeds United last night, Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca believes the race for automatic promotion in the Championship is wide open.
The Foxes entered the clash between the two relegated clubs on a run of nine consecutive league victories, which had seen them open a five-point lead over second-placed Ipswich Town. However, a single goal from Georginio Rutter was enough to give the Whites a 1-0 victory at the King Power Stadium, only Leicester’s second defeat of the season.
Despite a stuttering start to the season, Leeds have steadily climbed the table in recent weeks, and last night’s victory cemented their third-place position.
They are still 11 points behind the leaders, while Ipswich are six points ahead of Yorkshire despite having played two fewer games.
Maresca, on the other hand, was pleased with his performance and praised the game’s quality. In the aftermath, the 43-year-old told the Yorkshire Post:
“I just say hello to him (Daniel Farke), and probably the people in the stadium and on the television they enjoyed the game.
“We are both building, even if now the table you can still see the difference 11 points – we are aiming for the same target.
“They are very good, quick, dangerous, good technically. Overall happy, we cannot win all the games, defeat is part of the process. For sure, we can do something better.
“They start better than us, the reason why I don’t know. I think after our reaction was very good.”
Despite the lengthy gap the top two hold over the chasing pack, the former Manchester City assistant believes there are several teams still in the hunt for automatic promotion;
“There are many teams building to get promoted like us, Leeds they are building to get promoted.
“With Leicester, with Ipswich, with Southampton – it’s a long race for many clubs, not just Leeds and Leicester. For me, Sunderland could be there.”
Leicester will face a tough test next week before the international break when they travel to Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough.
Author’s Opinion
Maresca is correct in his assessment that there are still many teams with a chance to finish in the top two. If Ipswich win their two games in hand, which begin today with a trip to Birmingham City, they will replace Leicester at the top of the table, but there are still over 30 games left this season and a lot can change.
The Championship is arguably as strong as it has ever been, and the clubs he has mentioned, as well as Middlesbrough and Hull City, should be in with a chance come May.
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