Enzo Maresca frustration boils over as he says 'moment there's doubt about the idea, I will leave'

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/enzo-maresca-frustration-boils-over-9068058

 

The Leicester City manager feels it is being taken for granted what his side are achieving after their 22nd win from 29 Championship games against Swansea on Tuesday

 

ByJordan Blackwell
07:10, 31 JAN 2024UPDATED08:34, 31 JAN 2024

Enzo Maresca’s frustrations over the fan response to his style of play boiled over last night as he threatened to leave Leicester City if doubts over his philosophy intensify.

Maresca oversaw a 3-1 win for City over Swansea on Tuesday night, a result that puts them 10 points clear at the top of the Championship. They’re not only on course for promotion, but to eclipse the highest-ever points tally in English professional football, Reading’s 106 in 2006.

But still Maresca’s style of play has some detractors. There were smatterings of shouts to get the ball forward from the stands at the King Power Stadium, as well as a few groans when City went backwards to keep possession.

 

 

 

Since his arrival at City, Maresca has routinely appealed to supporters to get behind his team and create an atmosphere to help them earn big results, and he did so again before the clash with Swansea. But he suggested afterwards that some fans are taking for granted what his side are achieving.

“Probably the people, they think it’s easy to win games, but it’s not easy,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference. “I just want to remind that we have played 34 official games and we have won 26. That is a huge number and probably the people they think it’s easy to win games. But it’s not like this.

“You can feel the fans when they’re not happy. Probably some people they take some things for granted. But it’s not like this. Twenty-six wins out of 34. It’s something unbelievable. Probably when you win, win, win at home, and you continue to win, people think it’s easy. But it’s not easy.

“I arrive in this club to play with this idea. The moment there is some doubt about the idea, the day after, I will leave. It’s so clear. No doubts.

“We have won 26 of 34, a huge number. If people think it’s easy and take it for granted, it’s not like this. Huge respect for the players and the effort they are doing. Hopefully we can reach and give our fans the right joy at the end of the season.”

Most of the grumbles came in the latter stages of the first half, and Maresca did admit that his team lacked intensity on the ball in that period. He feels his players may have slacked a little after taking the lead so early, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring inside three minutes.

“In this moment, because we are in the last part of the season, the most important thing is to try to win games,” he said. “Probably the first goal after two minutes didn’t help the team in terms of we thought it was more easy. We dropped the intensity on the ball, not off the ball because we pressed very well, very high. Then second half it was a little bit better.

“Even if we drop a little bit the intensity on the ball in the first half, we still had two or three clear chances. I’m very happy because we are in the last part of the season and now it’s important to win games.”

[davieG]

Here’s what supporters have said on X, formerly Twitter:

Ashley Parker: Enzo has done remarkable since being here taking the club from the lows of relegation to being top of the champ with a new style. Yes, it can be boring at times,but we are winning games and on course for record points tally so I can see why Enzo is getting frustrated!

Andrew Joshi: Be careful what you wish for boys and girls

Remember what you felt like last season? losing games and the toxic atmosphere. Don’t fall into the trap of wanting your cake and eating it.

Just support the team & Enjoy the ride! WE ARE TOP!

Sam Merton: Enzo has done such a good job that large sections of the home support believe a 76% win ratio is normal. It’s not.

Stuart B: Am I really seeing people complaining about the way we're playing under Enzo? Yes, we pass it around the back, but then attack with purpose and crucially WIN GAMES. Would you prefer us to play like Leeds and make Play Offs!

Katy: Enzo’s going to go if another club comes in for him, isn’t he? I wouldn’t blame him either, we’re top of the league and he’s fighting a losing battle with the ‘fans’ every week. As a fan base, winning the prem ruined us. Entitled & dissatisfied with everything

[adejo92]

Agree with him to some extent, but baring in mind the squad he has, and the standard of opposition in comparison,  let's not pretend he's worked miracles.

Edited 31 January by adejo92

[Les-TA-Jon]

This fan base doesn't deserve Maresca at all. 

 

After the dross of Rodgers over the last 2 years and the disastrous way we went down last season, you'd think people would enjoy us winning most games, being 10 points clear at the top and playing a style of football that dominates large patches of most games. 

 

But it feels like 60-80% of the fans only like "GET IT FORWARD" 

[ozleicester]

but often its boring to watch

[goose2010]

Just now, adejo92 said:

Agree with him to some extent, but baring in mind the squad he has, and the standard of opposition in comparison,  let's not pretend he's worked miracles.

 

Give it a few games in the Premier League, then we'll see how confident he is with his 'philosophy'

you think Rooney or Lampard would have got us into this position? You think working with a squad that had zero confidence, no system, no style, no self belief is easy to work with? It doesnt matter how much they are earning or how good they are meant to be. 

 

You think that winning 26 out of 34 with a squad playing a completely new style infront of a bunch of self entitled boo boys isn't a miracle? 

 

I cant believe how narrow minded a lot of fans seem to be. 

[Les-TA-Jon]

2 minutes ago, ozleicester said:

but often its boring to watch

When?

 

Last night we totally dominated the game. We dominated possession. We created a ton of chances. If the players finish those chances, we win 6-1 or 7-1. 

[adejo92]

4 minutes ago, goose2010 said:

you think Rooney or Lampard would have got us into this position? You think working with a squad that had zero confidence, no system, no style, no self belief is easy to work with? It doesnt matter how much they are earning or how good they are meant to be. 

 

You think that winning 26 out of 34 with a squad playing a completely new style infront of a bunch of self entitled boo boys isn't a miracle? 

 

I cant believe how narrow minded a lot of fans seem to be. 

I think a lot of managers could have us right where we are now, yes.

 

Edited 31 January by adejo92

[Spudulike]

Just now, ozleicester said:

but often its boring to watch

Not as boring as getting hammered each week with a disfunctional team. 

 

I'm glad that he's said this. Time to shake it up a bit. 

[Lcfccon]

3 minutes ago, ozleicester said:

but often its boring to watch

not in my opinion, it’s an extremely well thought out methodical way to play football. I’d rather watch us pass it about the back than use the ball like a hot potato.

[Koke]

He's half right. But unfortunately I have very little confidence is several of these players in the Premier League. Sure Vestergaard, Daka, Faes etc look incredible against Championship teams. Look at Swansea last night, they made some god awful errors. 

 

The first goal last night is an example of Enzo ball. Its exciting and technically proficient. But we sure as **** make life hard for ourselves at the back. A team like Brighton would score 5 against our defenders.

[Lionator]

Boring is such a boring term. 

[Lionator]

Just now, Koke said:

He's half right. But unfortunately I have very little confidence is several of these players in the Premier League. Sure Vestergaard, Daka, Faes etc look incredible against Championship teams. Look at Swansea last night, they made some god awful errors. 

 

The first goal last night is an example of Enzo ball. Its exciting and technically proficient. But we sure as **** make life hard for ourselves at the back. A team like Brighton would score 5 against our defenders.

It's a good job there's a summer transfer window coming up where we'll have money to spend due to losing some of our biggest earners. 

[adejo92]

Just now, Lionator said:

Boring is such a boring term. 

Beaten only be 'Give your head a wobble'.

[ozleicester]

Just now, Les-TA-Jon said:

When?

 

Last night we totally dominated the game. We dominated possession. We created a ton of chances. If the players finish those chances, we win 6-1 or 7-1. 

Im not here to argue and i cant comment on last night as its one of the few games in the past 10 years that i havent bothered to get up for ( coz its too boring?), however other games i have watched this year have often been dull. 

Yep we are winning and his results cannot be questioned... but his entertaiment factor is highly questionable imo.

As always is the result all that matters?

[goose2010]

1 minute ago, adejo92 said:

I think a lot of managers could have us right where we are now, yes.

 

There's going to be some massive reality checks next season for some on here.

You couldnt name 5 that would have come here and got us into this position.  

 

Why? Why are fans going to have a massive reality check next season? 

 

If you have had a brain you should know if we get promoted it will be a tough season - survival is the target. 

 

So you going to be a 'i told you so' kind of fan when we may be lose to the a team like Brentford or Brighton etc. 

 

Honestly there is nothing worse that hearing 'oh lets wait until August then we will see what Enzo can do' 

[ithuriel]

 put this in the wrong thread initially.

People are still burnt about being in this league,  we should not have gone down with the squad we had but last season being the shambles that it was has left a bad taste.

To put it simply, it is like being kicked in the balls and still feeling it sometime afterwards.

The only thing I find strange about this season is there is no Maresca chant like previous managers have had, at least I can't remember hearing any chant, maybe he needs to hear some love from the fans.

 

Edited just now by ithuriel

[goose2010]

4 minutes ago, Koke said:

He's half right. But unfortunately I have very little confidence is several of these players in the Premier League. Sure Vestergaard, Daka, Faes etc look incredible against Championship teams. Look at Swansea last night, they made some god awful errors. 

 

The first goal last night is an example of Enzo ball. Its exciting and technically proficient. But we sure as **** make life hard for ourselves at the back. A team like Brighton would score 5 against our defenders.

out of interest who isnt good enough in the team to play in the prem? 

 

The same Brighton that got smacked by Luton last night? 

[Bezzanator89]

Delusions of grandeur among the fanbase.

 

We're top of the league, storming to the title despite a couple of wobbles, and suddenly we are expected to play like Champions-elect every game.

 

Yes, it's sometimes mind-numbingly boring, and turgid football. We sure as heck can't play like that in the Premier League.

But it's keeping us top, so fans should be grateful that he has got us to this point, and hopefully will stay if they actually give him some slack. It's not pretty football, and it doesn't have to be in this league.

[Madelin21]

No problem with the style if we're winning games. He's completely right about the negativity from the stands. It's one of the reasons we went down. Too many of the social media crew going down for status. Half of them don't even support Leicester. We really need to inject atmosphere and I can only see that by shuffling the Union lads to the family stand.

[Gwyn]

People who moan and groan must have started supporting us in the 2015/16 season. Times have changed.

 

Enzo will be a elite manager and we are very lucky to have him here.

 

If people think that our squad was so good that Tony Mowbray would have hot us as far as we are you need to go and play minecraft and talk about coding.

 

He is a modern day football tactician and will only get better the further we go.. ffs see it for what it is ir will be: total dominance

[Shit_arse]

Some of our supporters are completely deluded, its embarrassing. 

 

I went with my 9 year old son last night. We were sat near a butch of absolute fools who were moaning all game. Moaning when the ball was passed back to Mads, cheering ironically when it was hoofed forwards - calling for Vest to pass back to Mads ironically. It's embarrassing frankly. 

 

I'm not sure what people want - long ball/hoof it forwards and give possession away. It's so clear we are miles better than most of our opponents who all set up 2 banks of 4 and try to get us on the break. Last night another example of that. 

 

Why can't people just enjoy that we are performing well, getting results, and playing a somewhat slow but attractive style of play. 

 

The style we are playing is similar to the likes of Man City and the top prem teams - would people prefer we revert to long ball big man up front and hope for the best when we get promoted!! 

 

Caveat to all of the above is obviously ' I pay my money, I'll moan if I want to'. 

 

 

[Koke]

1 minute ago, goose2010 said:

out of interest who isnt good enough in the team to play in the prem? 

 

The same Brighton that got smacked by Luton last night? 

 

Vestergaard, Faes, Daka, Praet, Hamza. Jury is still out on KDH, Mavididi, McAteer, Hermansen.

 

Brighton are hit and miss team. But when they see a weak defence they score a lot. Likewise with Aston Villa. 

[foxfanazer]

14 minutes ago, ozleicester said:

but often its boring to watch

But if we were losing games 4-3 or losing every other game we'd moan about how unorganised we look. I get it because I get frustrated with it at times but I do understand where he's coming from. We nailed this appointment imo 

[Shit_arse]

9 minutes ago, Koke said:

He's half right. But unfortunately I have very little confidence is several of these players in the Premier League. Sure Vestergaard, Daka, Faes etc look incredible against Championship teams. Look at Swansea last night, they made some god awful errors. 

 

The first goal last night is an example of Enzo ball. Its exciting and technically proficient. But we sure as **** make life hard for ourselves at the back. A team like Brighton would score 5 against our defenders.

You don't need confidence in these players at Prem level - were not at that level. 

 

Again a deluded response. 

 

Lets get promoted first and allow Enzo to have a proper go next year. 

 

How do you know Brighton would score 5 against us! They got hammered by Luton last night!