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)
Enzo Maresca warned Mads Hermansen he would be replaced by Jakub Stolarczyk if he let his error compromise Leicester City’s gameplan.
Hermansen was at fault for Birmingham’s equaliser late in the first half of Saturday’s victory, the Dane taking too long on the ball and allowing Blues striker Jay Stansfield to charge down his pass. It took until the 87th minute for City to get back in front, with Stephy Mavididi heading in to spark jubilant scenes at the King Power Stadium.
Maresca was not upset with his goalkeeper’s mistake, pointing out that Hermansen’s quality on the ball has contributed to far more goals at the other end. But he did tell the Dane at half-time that if he let the error affect his performance to the extent he started launching the ball up the pitch rather than looking for a short pass, he would be substituted for back-up Stolarczyk.
“We won many games this year because of Mads,” Maresca said. “It can happen. What cannot happen is that he starts to play long balls. Otherwise we are going to play the second keeper.
