LEICESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Leicester City Manager Enzo Maresca speaks during the Leicester City press conference at Leicester City Training Ground, Seagrave on November 28, 2023 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Leicester City succumbed to the Elland Road atmosphere in their defeat to Leeds United but Enzo Maresca remains proud of his team’s performance.
City lost the top-of-the-table clash after conceding three goals in the final 10 minutes in a dent to their promotion bid. They had been the better team to that point and missed several golden opportunities to put the game to bed, Maresca ruing poor finishing for the second straight game with chances spurned against Middlesbrough last weekend too.
But after Connor Roberts netted the equaliser for Leeds, the Elland Road crowd got behind their team again and Maresca admitted the hosts were “mentally better” than his side. Leeds put the pressure on and took the three points thanks to Archie Gray’s deflected effort and a Dan James’ free-kick.
“Until the goal we conceded, for 80 minutes we were in control of the game,” Maresca said. “We dominated the game. We created many chances. Football is a matter of taking chances. We missed.
“In the last 10 minutes, in this kind of stadium, when you concede a goal, you drop a little bit or mentally they are better than us. After we conceded the goal, they were better than us in terms of mentality.
“It has been so clear that for 80 minutes that we dominated the game, controlled the game and created many chances. In this kind of game, it’s not easy. We feel bad because we drop points, but I feel very proud, because we came here with personality, playing the way we wanted to play.”
