Jesse Marsch will have devised a clear plan as to how his newly-inherited Leeds United side can get a positive result against Leicester City.
He knows the importance of getting immediate results and there would be no better to start than at King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The Foxes have hardly been impenetrable this term and only got off the mark for 2022 on Tuesday evening as they beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor.
It has been a tough season so far for Brendan Rodgers’ side as they have tried to navigate a second consecutive European campaign with an injury list similar to that of Leeds.
No team has played fewer Premier League matches this season but Leicester currently find themselves 12 th in the table and will have to accept that a third top-six finish is probably out of the realms of possibility.
We have taken a look at what aspects of their game that Leeds can look to exploit in the first game of the weekend.
Defensive frailties
While their defensive problems aren’t quite as severe as those at Elland Road, the inability to keep the ball out of the net has certainly been Leicester’s Achilles heel this term.
As mentioned previously, the injuries really haven’t helped their cause with Wesley Fofana yet to play this season and Jonny Evans starting only eight league games.
James Justin has just returned from a long-term injury lay-off while Ricardo Pereira and Timothy Castagne have been largely unable to stay fit for extended periods of time.
This has led to plenty of chopping and changing in the backline with their most regular back four only playing together five times in 38 games across all competitions.
That inconsistency in defence has led to plenty of problems, not least from set pieces where the Foxes are the joint-worst in the division with, you guessed it, Leeds.
Both teams, as well as Crystal Palace, have conceded from dead-ball situations on 13 occasions in the Premier League this season, a weakness that both managers will look to exploit on Saturday.
Other priorities
Given Leicester’s position in the league table, the chance of qualifying for any of the European competitions through the Premier League has almost totally vanished.
However, they do have the chance to get themselves into the Europa League for the third year running through the inaugural Conference League, which they would have to win.
Leicester ended up in the continent’s tertiary club competition after finishing third in their Europa League group. They beat Randers 7-2 over two legs in a play-off to reach the knockout stages where they have been drawn against Ligue 1 high flyers Rennes in the last 16.
While focus will be fully on matters against Leeds this weekend, they will have an eye on their first-leg clash with the French side on Thursday.
With 30 points on the board in the Premier League, Leicester still need a few wins to absolutely confirm their top-flight status but their top priority is more than likely their European exploits.
Uncertainty at the club
It feels like something of a transitional period at Leicester is due in the summer.
On a couple of occasions this season, Rodgers has questioned the commitment of his players with a handful seemingly thinking of making moves elsewhere.
The manager himself has been doubted by a numbers of supporters following his side’s indifferent form throughout the campaign but seems to have complete backing from the board.
Youri Tielemans, who has reportedly turned down the offer of a new contract, seems to be preoccupied every time he takes to the pitch which will come as a relief for Leeds fans who will remember the problems he caused in the 4-1 defeat at Elland Road last season.
There are certainly still some very good and very capable players in Rodgers’ squad but getting them all to work in cohesion at the best of their abilities has been a problem this season.
Marsch was clearly very aware of the threats that Leicester pose in his pre-match press conference on Thursday and claimed that his team ‘will have to have a clear match plan and understand the ways they can make it difficult for us and ways we can make it difficult for them’.
Time will tell whether or not the new boss has been able to devise a suitable plan that will effectively exploit Leicester’s weaknesses but it is essential, for his relationship with the fans, that the players in white turn in a strong performance.
The result is, of course, vitally important but as Marsch looks to get the supporters on side, he needs to show them something they can identify with and that must start from day one, against the Foxes.
