Leicester manager Claude Puel laughs off speculation he is under pressure after just one Premier League game
Leicester City manager Claude Puel has laughed off recent speculation that he could be facing the sack after just one Premier League game.
The Frenchman has faced doubts over his future since the end of last season, despite guiding the Foxes to ninth position in the last campaign.
The 56-year-old responded to the rumours by joking, “I would be happy for my successor because he would have a good team and a good squad.”
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On a more serious note, Puel added: “I cannot make comments about speculation in the newspapers. I’m happy to give my best and see the progress and the management of the team. I’m just focused about this. Speculation from outside the club is not my concern.”
The Frenchman, however, was much more coy on whether centre-back Harry Maguire, who was the subject of interest from Manchester United during the transfer window, will be signing a new deal imminently with the Foxes.
“The most important thing is his importance to the club and the squad. We have to manage players in the right way, with their contracts and different things. We have to build a squad for the future as well and Harry is a valuable player for us,” he stated.
Maguire will wait to be united in defence with new signing Caglar Soyuncu, the Turkish defender who Puel confirmed has signed for the club but added that Saturday’s game against Wolves will come too soon for the deadline-day signing from Freiburg.
“It’s official. He’s a Leicester player. We are happy to wish him a good welcome. He arrives tonight and will not be fit for this game. After a little injury he will come back into training,” said the 56-year-old.
Soyuncu is not the only player unavailable to the Leicester manager, with Matty James on the injury list and Shinji Okazaki not match fit after his participation in the World Cup.
“We will see if he can come back with the under-23s. He needs some game-time to come back,” the Frenchman said of the Japan striker.
Puel stressed the importance of not rushing the 32-year-old back after his World Cup endeavours. “It is important to see this, to analyse their rest. We can see what happens with De Bruyne for example. When an international player does not have a rest, it is a danger later in the season. If you use players early, you need to be careful.”
