Leicester City have enjoyed a marvellous season in the Championship but cracks are beginning to show heading into the final 11 games.
Enzo Maresca‘s side looked on course to win the title at a canter, but having lost three on the bounce, they’re beginning to be dragged back in with the chasing pack.
Promotion rivals Ipswich Town and Southampton both secured victory on the weekend, whilst The Foxes suffered a 2-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers.
Few could’ve predicted City’s downfall, as they only lost four games in the opening 32 of the season, and many are left scratching their head at where it’s gone wrong.
But former Luton and Ipswich striker Sam Parkin has highlighted where Leicester’s problem lies.
Sam Parkin highlights Leicester City’s main issue
The East Midlanders have been pretty watertight at the back all season, but their impressive defensive record has started to unravel over the last two weeks, having shipped seven goals in three games.
Though speaking on talkSPORT’s EFL All Access podcast, Parkin noted how detrimental Ricardo Pereira‘s absence has been: “They’ve just lost their way. I think it’s slightly down to the personnel that’s been available, he’s (Enzo Maresca) had big players missing. I think Ricardo’s (Pereira) a massive loss,” the 42-year-old said.
“Jason (Bourne) highlighted his performance at Elland Road which I thought was superb. And let’s focus on that maybe, they were amazing I thought for 60, 70 minutes at Leeds in a colossal pressure game. So I don’t think too much is wrong but three games I think back to back now away from home, away from the King Power, they need to respond.”
Enzo Maresca misses Ricardo Pereira in midfield
Leicester were without Pereira – who has captained the side on several occasions this season – in the defeat to QPR and his absence was evident.
The seven-cap Portugal international has been deployed as a number eight in recent weeks and his defensive skill set has been imperative to Maresca’s system.
On the weekend, the Italian head coach named Dennis Praet in his place, who is a more attack-minded player.
The Belgian playmaker was forced off through injury in the first half and on game Yunus Akgun, who just like Praet, lacks the knowhow to break up play.
Since Wilfred Ndidi‘s injury, and Cesare Casadei’s return to Chelsea, Maresca has had to find a way to make his side more compact in the middle, and Pereira’s new role was working.
But now he must find a different solution, with the former Porto defender sidelined until after the international break.