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BBC News
11-08-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leicester must be 'more clinical'
Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes said his side must be "more clinical" after their comeback win against crisis-hit Sheffield Foxes tallied 27 shots in total during their Championship campaign opener on Sunday, 13 of them on target, but required a late goal from substitute Wout Faes to down their 10-man 87th-minute winner came via Bilal El Khannouss' delivery from one of Leicester's 13 corners, with the sought-after Moroccan playmaker also assisting centre-back Jannik Vestergaard from a free-kick for the equaliser earlier in the second his new side were "slow" in their ball movement during a first half which saw them fall behind, Cifuentes said the second period showed more promising signs in terms of both player positioning and pace on the ball."From there we created many clear goal chances, and we need to get better at being more clinical on those ones," the Spanish coach added. But Cifuentes lauded Leicester's "mental capacity" to come from behind and the "fantastic impact" of his second-half introductions including Faes and Patson Daka, who also came close to finding the back of the net late asked about both goals being scored by defenders at set-pieces, he told BBC Radio Leicester: "I don't have any big preference on the way we score, as long as we score. It's important that we have different tools to create chances. "The important thing is that we score, no matter if it's the centre halves or the strikers."On his appreciation for Leicester's fans following his arrival last month, Cifuentes added: "Hopefully we can build something very strong together. "We're going to try and work as hard as we can to give them good evenings, good afternoons, good results, good football, and hopefully they will appreciate are next in action against League One side Huddersfield Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, followed by a league trip to Preston North End on Saturday.
The Guardian
11-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Faes fires late winner as Leicester sink Sheffield Wednesday amid protests
Martí Cifuentes has cleared his first hurdle as Leicester manager. A late header from his substitute Wout Faes completed a comeback victory but for much of a testing opening game against Henrik Pedersen's Sheffield Wednesday, who took a first-half lead amid fan protests against the club's ownership, that looked an unlikely outcome. There will be no illusions over how difficult an immediate return to the Premier League will be for Leicester. 'The Championship is a ruthless league,' said Cifuentes, who succeeded Ruud van Nistelrooy this summer. 'It was a good lesson for everyone to understand that we cannot take anything for granted.' For Wednesday, it was an achievement to even be here. Placed under a transfer embargo by the Football League because of late payments, they have only 15 senior first-teamers on the books. The players and staff were paid their outstanding July wages on Friday after solidarity payments from the Premier League came in. Pedersen stepped in to be head coach after the departure of Danny Röhl at the end of July and the Dane's tone at full-time here was largely positive. 'Very proud feeling from the performance,' he said. 'It's been some tough, tough weeks. To keep the discipline, to keep the motivation … it was a fantastic picture for how you can do this.' The sold-out away section was sparsely populated at kick-off, the vast majority of Wednesday supporters staying outside for the first five minutes in protest against the Thai owner, Dejphon Chansiri, who is yet to receive an offer for the club that matches his valuation. A banner reading 'SWFC for sale – enough is enough' was left on the empty seats. When Wednesday's fans arrived, Nathaniel Chalobah almost gave them something to cheer about straight away, chesting the ball down at a corner and sending a bobbling shot across goal that came off the foot of a post. The away end, so quiet for those first five minutes, erupted midway through the first half when Chalobah met Yan Valery's cut-back and had a low shot deflected into the roof of the net by Oliver Skipp. Chalobah and his teammates set off towards the far side of the stadium, where the noise – a mixture of joy and defiance, of pent-up frustration being let out – only grew as they approached. The celebrations were a picture. 'Our fans are a big, big inspiration for our players,' Pedersen said. 'The togetherness with the fans … of course they will go to the fans. They are so thankful for the support they are giving.' The discontent among the home supporters too was evident from the outset. Charged by the Premier League for breaches of profitability and sustainability rules in the 2023-24 campaign, Leicester are still waiting to find out if they will be handed a points deduction this season. Important members of the first team, including the goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, have been sold to raise funds. But will there be more outgoings at a club that are yet to spend any money in the transfer market? 'If I could predict the future, trust me, I would be much richer than what I am,' Cifuentes said. 'I don't know what's going to happen. It's clear it's a work in progress.' In terms of quality on the ball, Leicester were a cut above. Bilal El Khannouss, who impressed in the Premier League last season and who could still leave before the window shuts, was a constant threat. The introduction of Harry Winks at the break added control in midfield, where Wednesday were struggling to cope after Chalobah was withdrawn injured. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion El Khannouss created the equaliser with a low free-kick that made its way through to Jannik Vestergaard, who had time to take a couple of touches before firing past Pierce Charles in the Wednesday goal. The momentum was then on Leicester's side, Stephy Mavididi almost giving them the lead when, after evading a couple of defenders, his shot was blocked at close quarters by Charles. Wednesday's task became even tougher when their 35-year-old captain, Barry Bannan, who has just signed a new contract after training with the team after his previous one expired in June, received a second yellow card for a rash follow‑through on Winks. An inspired Charles then kept out Patson Daka's header but, in the end, the visitors could hold out no longer. El Khannouss's corner was butted in by Faes to complete a turnaround that denied Wednesday a draw after their supporters had made their own point in the first five minutes.
Powys County Times
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Leicester strike late after resistance of beleaguered Sheff Wed players and fans
Substitute Wout Faes scored a late header to give Leicester a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday as Owls fans protested against owner Dejphon Chansiri. Wednesday have had to endure a turbulent off-season and are under a number of Football League-imposed embargoes for various financial breaches, including the payment of wages to players and staff being delayed for the last three months. Wednesday fans made their feelings known to Chansiri by delaying their entry to their seats and the away end was visibly empty as the players came onto the pitch at the King Power Stadium, with a banner that read 'SWFC for sale – enough is enough'. The Owls had just 15 senior players on the books ahead of their season-opener but produced a determined display against the Foxes. After five minutes, the fans made their way into the ground and were greeted with applause from the Leicester fans. For Wednesday, it was an achievement of its own to be on the pitch for the first game but they stunned the King Power into silence when Nathaniel Chalobah gave the visitors a shock lead midway through the first half, and it was thoroughly deserved. Wednesday's resilience was broken when Jannik Vestergaard equalised early in the second period and, if Wednesday already did not have a mountain to climb, captain Barry Bannan was sent off with 14 minutes to play. Leicester, who started a new era after relegation from the Premier League under new boss Marti Cifuentes, left it late to grab the winner through Faes and were reminded that life back in the Championship may not be as plain sailing as the last time they were in the second tier. A spirited Wednesday side almost grabbed an early opener, Chalobah driving forward with the ball an unleashing an effort which needed to be tipped onto the post by Jakub Stolarczyk. Pierce Charles was brought into action with three routine saves in first 15 minutes but the hosts came closest when Bilal El Khannouss' effort from distance was marginally dragged wide. Against the script, an already emotional away end erupted in the 26th minute. Yan Valery cut the ball back to Chalobah on the edge of the box and he sent a strike towards goal which deflected off Oliver Skipp and into the net. Leicester should have been on level terms three minutes before the break – a corner whipped towards the back post was headed back across goal by Caleb Okoli but Vestergaaard headed wide. Leicester wanted a penalty at end of the half when El Khannous' strike seemingly hit the arm of Bannan as boos rang around the stadium at the break. Leicester City fans applaud Sheffield Wednesday supporters in solidarity amid the club's ongoing financial struggles, as fans hold off entering the stadium in protest. — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 10, 2025 The Foxes put Wednesday under the pump at the beginning of the second period as the visitors could not get out of their own half and the pressure paid. El Khannouss' low delivery from a free-kick evaded everyone inside the box and Vestergaard pounced to finish high into the net. Valery and Chalobah both went off injured and Wednesday's task was made harder when Bannan was given his marching orders for a second booking for a late challenge on Harry Winks. Leicester finally found the winner three minutes from time. Charles was in inspired form and he denied a Patson Daka header from point blank range but there was nothing he could do from the resulting corner when El Khannouss whipped a corner onto the head of Faes, who guided home.
The Guardian
10-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Wout Faes fires late winner as Leicester sink 10-man Sheffield Wednesday
Martí Cifuentes has cleared his first hurdle as Leicester manager. The former QPR coach took the time to do a lap of the King Power Stadium while his players warmed up, introducing himself to the home supporters. A late header from his substitute Wout Faes ensured that those fans went home happy – but for much of a testing opening game against Henrik Pedersen's Sheffield Wednesday, who have had to face plenty of obstacles before a ball was even kicked this season, that looked an unlikely outcome. For Wednesday, it was an achievement to even be here. Placed under a transfer embargo by the Football League because of late payments, they have just 15 senior first-teamers on the books and cancelled their final pre-season fixture against Burnley after the players refused to play. They and the staff were paid their outstanding July wages on Friday after solidarity payments from the Premier League came in. The sold-out away section was left sparsely populated at kick-off, the vast majority of Wednesday supporters staying outside for the first five minutes in protest against the Thai owner, Dejphon Chansiri, who is yet to receive an offer for the club that matches his valuation. A banner reading 'SWFC for sale – enough is enough' was left on the empty seats. Leicester's supporters rose to applaud as the travelling fans made their way into the ground. Nathaniel Chalobah almost gave the arriving Wednesday fans something to cheer about straight away, chesting the ball down at a corner and sending a bobbling shot across goal that came off the foot of the post. The away end, so quiet for those first five minutes, erupted midway through the first half when Chalobah gave the visitors a deserved lead. The former England international met Jan Valery's cut-back and his low shot was deflected into the roof of the net by Oliver Skipp. Chalobah and his teammates set off towards the far side of the stadium, where the noise – a mixture of joy and defiance, of pent-up frustration being let out – only grew as they approached. The discontent among the home supporters too was evident from the outset. Charged by the Premier League for breaches of profitability and sustainability rules in the 2023-24 campaign, relegated Leicester are still waiting to find out if they will be handed a points deduction this season. Important members of the first team, including the first-choice goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, have been sold to raise funds. In terms of quality on the ball, Leicester were a cut above. Bilal El Khannouss, who impressed in the Premier League last season and who could still leave before the window shuts, was a constant threat, while the winger Abdul Fatawu was making his first competitive appearance since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament last November. The introduction of Harry Winks at the break added a sense of control in midfield, where Wednesday were struggling to cope after Chalobah was withdrawn injured. El Khannouss created the equaliser with a low free-kick that made its way through to Jannik Vestergaard, who had time to take a couple of touches before firing past Pierce Charles in the Wednesday goal. The momentum was then on Leicester's side, Stephy Mavididi almost giving them the lead when, after evading a couple of defenders, his shot was blocked at close quarters by Pierce Charles. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Winks's sharpness to the ball and in possession were what Leicester were lacking in the first half. With just under 15 minutes to go, he was caught after beating Barry Bannan to the ball. The 35-year-old Wednesday captain, who has just signed a new contract after training with the team after his previous one expired in June, could have no arguments about a second yellow card that reduced his already ailing team to 10 men. In the end, the visitors could hold out no longer. Amid a flurry of late Leicester chances, El Khannouss's corner was butted in by Faes to complete a turnaround that denied Wednesday a draw after their supporters, wearing black and gold until they are sold, had made their own point in the first five minutes.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Van Nistelrooy on Faes injury, taking 'blow after blow' and Monga's 'reward'
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton (kick-off 15:00 BST).Here are the key lines from his news conference:Wout Faes is a doubt after "picking up a small injury" which left him unable to train on Thursday. He will be reassessed ahead of the trip to Amex is "definitely possible" for Ricardo Pereira to feature in his starting line-up this weekend. His experience playing as an inverted full-back could have a "big influence" in changing the Foxes' "current momentum".When asked about Harry Winks' absence from his recent matchday squads, he replied: "The club is in a period now where it shouldn't be about individuals. These conversations with individuals take place behind closed doors and it is important to keep it like that."On the mood in camp after losing their eighth consecutive game without scoring, he said: "It is clear that it is blow after blow. Of course you are always hurt when you don't win or when things aren't going your way, but it adds up. Every time it gets harder to recover from."After naming an unchanged starting XI in their last four matches, he could make some personnel changes and a back four could return against Brighton. However, he doesn't believe their current form is due to "tactics or systems".He added: "The players worry too much, which is normal, so they aren't free enough to show their own qualities. That's where character comes in to force yourself to be at your best, and keep that confidence and mental toughness on show."On whether Premier League survival is an impossible job, he responded: "I don't think you can say it is impossible. The target now is to build Leicester City back up. It is very difficult to stay up. It is very difficult to compete in the last games. It is important to use the lessons learned."Conversations about his future at the club are yet to begin, but he will continue his job for as long as he is needed. His current focus and commitment is on "working with the players and the club to fight through this and show that we can break this cycle".He added: "I am taking full responsibility for it and I am fully committed to this task. It is why I came here - I came here to do my job in any circumstances."Jeremy Monga's Premier League debut was "a great reward for his talent and the work he puts in". The academy product has the "physical and mental capabilities" to cope with the demands of Premier League football, but the club doesn't want to progress the 15-year-old "too quickly".Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
