Leicester City fully embrace their reality as Enzo Maresca uses his bargaining power instantly
For the 5,725 Leicester City fans in Deepdale’s Bill Shankly Kop, it didn’t matter that this was the second-tier title.
In the past decade, City have won the Premier League and FA Cup for the first time in their history, the two crown jewels of English football. Only two years ago this week, they were playing in a European semi-final. The conventional wisdom suggests that the Championship title therefore means little. This season was purely about getting back to the big time. It didn’t matter if there was a trophy to go with it.
But it turns out that being crowned champions is special no matter what division it is. This was an unforgettable night and an away end for the ages.
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The near-6,000 supporters travelling to Preston came to party. The pile of inflatable beach balls, bananas, dinosaurs, sharks, and trophies confiscated by stewards and local police testified to that.
With scarves and flags waving, the stand was bouncing even before a ball had been kicked. Then for 90 minutes it was wall-to-wall noise as fans delved into the back catalogue to chant adoringly about Lloyd Dyer, Andy King, Marcin Wasilewski, and more. The first goal went in, flares were set off, and fans went wild. It was raucous, pulsating stuff, a greater spectacle than the game itself. In the second half, the away end exploded again as Jamie Vardy leathered one in right in front of them.
The players were desperate to get involved. Full-time came, the title was secured, and the whole squad dashed over to the fans. There were chants galore as the squad jumped and danced with joy down below, spraying champagne and lifting Enzo Maresca and the chairman into the air. The whole team partied together. There was a very evident camaraderie between everybody at the club.
There was a good half-hour of celebrations before the players headed back down the tunnel. But they couldn’t resist going back, the squad flying the length of the pitch and sliding on their fronts to keep the party going. Then, just as fans were starting to make for the exit, Preston kindly played ‘When You’re Smiling’ over the speakers and supporters sang their way into the night. It won’t be an experience anybody forgets in a hurry.
In the build-up to the game, Maresca had said that getting the players and the fans to live City’s reality was the most difficult aspect of this season. In his view, the Premier League and FA Cup were too fresh in the minds of everybody associated with City and it was affecting perceptions of what the club should be achieving. His point is understandable. It was only two-and-a-half weeks ago that City lost at Plymouth, the players were booed off the pitch, and social media was ablaze with fans calling for the manager’s head. That was with the club still sat in the promotion places.
But nobody was reminiscing over the recent successes on Monday night. Nobody was dismissing the Championship title win on account it’s not as grand as other trophies. Everybody was in the moment and embracing the reality. And they were absolutely loving it.
No hangover repeat as 2am celebrations don't stop flowing performance
Rewind 10 years and you may remember Leo Ulloa twice netting for a rampant Brighton in a 4-1 win for the Seagulls at the King Power Stadium. That game came three days after City had been promoted to the Premier League, and it’s fair to say that preparations had not been as thorough as they usually are. The trip to Preston also came three days after promotion. But this time, there was no hangover in the performance.
It would not have been a surprise if there had been. Having watched Leeds’ defeat together and celebrated their achievement, the players then rocked up at Maresca’s house at 2am on Saturday morning – the manager having had his family pizza night and tucked his kids into bed. After a few hours’ kip, the squad and staff were back at Seagrave for more beer and celebrations, and then it was off to Vardy’s to keep the party going.
But after 24 hours to revel in their promotion, City did get down to business and prepared well enough to produce a performance to be proud of at Preston. Safely in mid-table with nothing to play, North End weren’t up to much, but City were utterly dominant, playing their way but with a greater freedom too.
With the pressure of promotion eased, City relaxed. There were more flicks, tricks and inventive passes. Players looked more willing to take risks. It led to an exciting attacking display with three goals and the potential for more. That City were so good made the night that extra bit special.
Let's get Vardy to his double century
Maresca wouldn’t quite say Vardy is staying but he gave the clearest indication yet that he would be. It might not be the 10 more years fans are asking for, nor is it likely he will still be scoring goals aged 45 as the manager said he might be, but it seems there will be more Vardy goals to cheer yet.
There was always going to be an emotional element to any decision over Vardy’s future, but these past few months have made it a footballing one too. Since February, and despite City’s results being iffy for much of that period, his goalscoring form has been outstanding.
The double at Preston was not vintage. One was scuffed in and the other smashed home from a couple of yards out. But being in the right place at the right time is as much a skill as putting the ball in the net.
It means that over the past three months, Vardy has scored 12 goals at a rate of one every 66 minutes he's been on the pitch. Yes, Championship defenders may not have the strength and cunning of their Premier League counterparts, but that’s an exceptional record.
Two more goals means he’s up to 20 for the season in all competitions and up to 190 in his City career. That 200-goal milestone looks appealing.
McAteer's goalscoring instinct helps his cause in expected debate
Promotion allowed Maresca to tinker with his team at Preston. Mads Hermansen, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Stephy Mavididi were all rested, with Jakub Stolarczyk handed a rare outing in goal and Kasey McAteer starting on the wing for the first time since mid-February.
McAteer is one of those players in an interesting position as City get ready to head up to the Premier League. There is a big jump in the standard between the two divisions and City need everybody in the squad to be able to contribute if they are to stay up. Fans and Maresca alike will ask the question over whether each player is good enough and it feels like McAteer will generate the most divided response.
Stepping up from League Two last season, there naturally has been some teething issues. And he isn’t as technically talented as Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu are, especially in one-v-ones, which is perhaps the most important attribute for a winger in a Maresca side.
But his showing at Preston offers an indication of what he will bring to the squad and how he will help in the Premier League. Because he is arguably a better goalscorer than his two wing rivals.
His second-half header was his seventh of the campaign. That’s as many as Fatawu has scored and McAteer has done it in fewer than half the minutes. Of the trio, his ability to find space and capitalise on crosses is by far the best.
More than that, his movement is intelligent and he’s not afraid to run at defenders, especially when playing on the left. He’s definitely got a role to play next season.
Ambitious Maresca instantly puts his bargaining power to use
Maresca did not waste time in using his bargaining power to prepare for next season. After sealing promotion, he has done the job City employed him to do. Now he wants to cash that in.
Midway through his post-match press conference, when asked if he could allow himself to get excited about managing a Premier League club, Maresca instead turned his attention to things he “didn’t like”. The bugbears appear to be the January transfer window – including the late communication over the need for sales and the breakdown of Stefano Sensi’s move – and the financial problems that mean he will likely be trying to overcome a points deduction next term.
On these matters, he wants talks with the club’s hierarchy. Maresca knows he’s in a strong position and if there is any moment where he can make his case for clarification or even changes of the structures behind the scenes, now is that time. By making it public that this is what he plans to do means it becomes an unavoidable conversation for the club.
Maresca is ambitious. He doesn’t want those ambitions to be hindered by a club who can’t buy players and whose money mismanagement leads to sanctions. For him, the Championship title is just the start. He’s asking the club if they’re with him or not.