Coming down from the Premier League into the Championship this season, it seemed as though Leeds were returning into a league much stronger than the one they coasted out of in 2019/20.
That is because of two other relegated teams coming down with similar strength behind them, and a number of other sides growing in strength from previous seasons in the EFL.
How are Leicester City doing this season?
Optimistic fans in the EFL might have hoped that standout favourites Leicester City wouldn’t be able to get up to top speed right away in the Championship, but Enzo Maresca’s side are making the league look fairly easy at the moment.
They sit top of the table after 10 games with 27 points on the board, having only dropped points in one game, losing 1-0 to Hull City.
Their latest was another strong showing, as they cut Preston down to size with a 3-0 win despite Ryan Lowe’s side also enjoying a solid run so far this season.
Enzo’s nod to Leeds and Southampton
Leicester Mercury journalist Jordan Blackwell has now relayed comments from the Foxes manager, revealing that there was a subtle wink to the two other relegated sides, indicating that what Leicester are doing is something Leeds and the Saints aren’t replicating right now:
“It felt like there was a sly nod to Leeds and Southampton’s wobbles too. Maresca said there were other ‘important’ teams with big-name players in the division like City, and that they had ‘struggled’.
“It feels fair to assume he was referring to the two teams who came down with City, and while they’ve not exactly struggled – they’re both in the top half, with Leeds in the top six – they are 11 points off the pace being set by Maresca’s side. For them to catch up, City would need to lose four games, or draw six.
“Maresca’s point boiled down to: ‘If it’s so easy to win nine games from 10 as a relegated team, why haven’t Leeds and Southampton done it as well?’ Fair enough.”
As much as it’s a potential cheeky nod to the fact that us and Southampton aren’t hitting the heights yet, it’s also significant praise for how his side have done.
There was plenty of reservation with Maresca’s appointment at the King Power, given his lack of senior management experience, with his only give a short-lived disaster at Parma.
However, they are proving right now they are the team to beat, looking too strong for the league in virtually every area.
It’s up to us to prove that we are also on that level.
