Enzo Maresca told Patson Daka he is “fantastic” in the wake of his missed chance at Leeds United, with the Zambian striker fully backed by his manager to continue leading the line for Leicester City.
Daka had a glorious chance to put City 2-0 up at Elland Road last Friday when one-on-one with goalkeeper Illan Meslier, but he skewed his effort wide of the post. City went on to lose 3-1.
Maresca said that, naturally, Daka felt responsible for the result, even though he did put the ball in the net once, turning in a rebound at a corner before wrongly being flagged for offside. The manager has been lifting his spirits this week ahead of the Championship clash with QPR.
Even though Maresca has four strikers to choose from again, with Jamie Vardy back fit, Daka looks to be favourite to continue up front. The Zambian has started five of the six Championship games City have played since he returned from the Africa Cup of N
Asked if he needed to give Daka a pep talk, Maresca said: “Yeah, especially like the other day when you are 1-0 up and you could score the second one. You didn’t score and then at the end you lost the game. For that player who misses the chance, they feel more responsible. But we also had a normal goal they disallowed.
“(I told him) that he’s fantastic. He played fantastic. He missed the chance unfortunately, but the chance he missed, he pressed in our side and he sprinted to the box after a long game. The only thing we can say to Patson and the way he has behaved is: ‘Thanks and continue this way until the end.’”
