Victor Kristiansen spent last season on loan at Bologna as Leicester City secured an instant return to the Premier League by winning the Championship.
Victor Kristiansen only signed for Leicester City in January 2023 but left on loan following relegation as it became clear that Enzo Maresca‘s play-style would not suit his talents.
However, Steve Cooper’s arrival represented a fresh start for the Dane and he has enjoyed the trust of his new manager as he has started each of Leicester’s five Premier League games so far at left-back.
Kristiansen is yet to taste victory in the Premier League since his return as Leicester’s hunt for a first league win under Cooper continued with a disappointing 1-1 draw at home against Everton on Saturday, but the 21-year-old can be happy with his individual performances so far.
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Victor Kristiansen performing different role since Stephy Mavididi brought into Leicester City side
One of the surprises of the early weeks of Cooper’s rein was the absence of Stephy Mavididi from the starting XI in the league after a fine campaign in the Championship last season.
Cooper decided to reinstate Mavididi to the Leicester lineup against Crystal Palace last weekend and he has now scored two in two games to further highlight how strange that decision was.
Mavididi has been playing on the left wing, with Cooper wanting him to maintain the width whilst Jordan Ayew is allowed to draft in-field from the right.
This has led to a change in role for Kristiansen who has gone from a left-back tasked with getting up and down the flank at will to becoming a third centre-back in possession to allow Mavididi space in which to operate.
Kristiansen spoke to Leicester’s official club website about this shift and the understanding he is gaining with Mavididi after the draw with Everton, saying: “It’s been good to play with Stephy, it’s a different role for me in the last two games.
“I think I can come a bit more with my strength arriving in the second and third phase of the game, but it’s about giving Stephy the space he needs for his one-v-ones, and sometimes supporting him with overlaps. It’s been good.”
Kristiansen role important to allow Mavididi to make Leicester City impact
Kristiansen will be the first to admit that this is not how he would prefer to play, as the youngster loves to sprint forward and make crosses.
However, Cooper has to try and find a way to boost Leicester’s chances of Premier League survival and if Kristiansen has to play a little more conservatively to accommodate Mavididi then he will see this as an acceptable compromise.
The fact that Mavididi has scored in the last two games also makes it easier for Cooper to convince Kristiansen to sacrifice himself in an attacking sense as the Denmark defender can see it is clearly for the good of the team.
Mavididi has gone from a bench player to now being undroppable for Cooper and deserves credit for working hard to earn his opportunity despite the initial disappointment of being snubbed by a new manager.