Enzo Maresca has been warned about the threat Leeds United pose in attack ahead of this weekend’s stand-out Championship clash.
Leicester City face the difficult prospect of visiting Leeds United at Elland Road in what promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between Enzo Maresca and Daniel Farke.
The match has been compared to Liverpool vs Manchester City as the styles of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are contrasting, just like Maresca has a different philosophy to Farke.
Leicester are more focused on keeping possession and patiently waiting for openings, whereas Leeds quickly shift the ball to their forward players and hurt the opposition with their pace.
It’s this contrast and variety in styles that has made the prospect of this tie so mouth-watering and exciting for the neutral.
Leeds arrive with their tails up after recording eight straight victories that have been accompanied by seven clean sheets, while City lost 2-1 against Middlesbrough last weekend.
What’s most worrying for Leicester, however, is how devastating the Whites are in the final third.
They possess several talented players, including Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter, who can decide the outcome of a game in a flash.
Enzo Maresca sent warning about Leeds United’s attack
Maresca doesn’t need a second warning about the threat Leeds pose in attack.
However, speaking on the What the EFL podcast, Adrian Clarke is worried about the damage Rutter could do and has suggested what the Italian should do tactically to stop him.
He said: “Rutter running off Winks would worry me for Leicester because he’s physical so superior isn’t he. I just wonder if they might get the legs of Ricardo and bring him into midfield and stiffen it up in that zone.”
In central attack areas, Leeds will want Rutter and Joel Piroe dropping into the pockets and running beyond Harry Winks.
Maresca could resolve that issue tactically by using Ricardo Pereira as a central midfielder and moving to a three-at-the-back system once more.
Not only would this solidify the Foxes centrally, but Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi could help the outside centre-backs double up on Gnonto and Summerville.
Also, having a double pivot of Winks and Pereira would be vital to progressing the ball up the pitch as Farke will attempt to mark the English maestro out of the game.
The German knows that most of Leicester’s attacking play goes through him, so shifting the Portuguese alongside him – like he did against Watford – could make a huge difference.