Claude Puel’s managerial style is coming under scrutiny at Leicester City, where there is growing unease within the dressing room about his approach on the training ground and in particular the regular changing of the team. In a situation that has parallels with some of the difficulties that the Frenchman faced during his time in charge of Southampton last season, Puel appears to have a job on his hands to galvanise a Leicester squad that is becoming sceptical of his methods.
There is no suggestion that Puel, who was appointed in October to replace Craig Shakespeare, is under pressure at boardroom level and it is possible that Leicester could still finish the season in seventh place and qualify for the Europa League. Yet those hopes are fading in the wake of a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Newcastle on Saturday, which means Leicester have picked up only three points from their last four league games at the King Power Stadium, and other matters are starting to surface.
It is understood that the unrest among the players in relation to the manager runs deeper than results and centres on concerns about the tempo and intensity of the training sessions as well as his team selection. Puel has named the same side only twice in the Premier League since taking over and has made 22 changes across the last seven top‑flight matches alone. While some of those decisions have been enforced because of injuries and suspensions, others have left players bemused and wondering what the thinking is behind them, partly because of an alleged lack of communication.
Puel said after the Newcastle game that Leicester had “wasted a big opportunity” and admitted he shoulders the blame for the team starting games slowly.“I am the first one responsible because I am the manager,” he said.
“It is my responsibility to give them the good mentality, the good tempo, the good motivation to start stronger in our games. In the two last games it’s not enough. Our aggressiveness, our desire, our tempo in the play was poor and we have to improve all these aspects.”
