Enzo Maresca has given one of his Leicester City players an area to improve on following Saturday’s 2-1 win against Birmingham City.
The East Midlanders left it late to defeat the relegation-threatened Blues but it made it all the more exciting for Foxes fans, even if it was a little unnerving for large portions of the afternoon.
Victory for the hosts moved them to the summit of the Championship table, one point ahead of Ipswich Town and two clear of Leeds United.
Leicester also have a game in hand on the aforementioned pair, so they’re in a really strong position heading into the final stages of the season.
After yesterday’s win, Maresca sent a pretty strong message to one City star.
Enzo Maresca urges Stephy Mavididi to be more consistent
Stephy Mavididi was the match-winner against Birmingham, heading home a delicious Yunus Akgun cross in the 87th minute, sending King Power Stadium into raptures.
It was a glorious moment for the summer arrival, who has impressed in his debut campaign at The Foxes.
The fleet-footed winger took his tally to 13 goals, though, speaking post-match, Maresca urged the 25-year-old to be more consistent.
“He loves and we love (when he steps up to the plate),” the City boss said.
“Happy for him. I said many times, since we start, that Stephy has to be consistent. He can become even more important for us.”
Whilst he was clearly delighted for Mavididi, it was an interesting play from Maresca, who kept a lid on his praise for the match-winner.
The Italian head coach seemed reluctant to laud him and instead gave him an area of his game to work on.
Whether that spurs him on, time will tell, but he’s certainly returning back to his best after a tricky few months.
Stephy Mavididi can become a Premier League level player
Leicester are now in the driving seat in this incredible automatic promotion race and they are on poll to make an instant return to the Premier League.
If they do indeed bounce back to the top flight, questions will be asked about who can transition from the Championship to the elite level.
Mavididi, who has been ‘integral’ this term, is certainly a player who has the ability to make that next step, as he’s already proved in his fantastic display against Chelsea in the FA Cup.
The former Arsenal academy product produced one of the goals of the competition after dancing his way into the box before curling home a well-struck effort.
He needs to produce more of that on a regular basis if he is to realise his lofty potential and he’s in exactly the right place to do that, under the experience of Maresca.