Danny Murphy has called new Leicester boss Enzo Maresca ‘naive’ for his beliefs on his sides status in the Championship.
Speaking in his first press conference on Monday, the Italian Maresca revealed his views on Leicester as a club.
The former Manchester City coach spoke about how his new team will face similar pressures to his old employers. Namely due to the fact Leicester are massive promotion favourites to head back to the Premier League.
Maresca said he has warned his players that their Championship opponents will be determined to claim their scalp on visits to the King Power next season.
He said, “Every team will want to come here and take points because we are Leicester.
“They’re going to come in our stadium and try to get points because we are probably, for them, the most important club in the Championship.”
Before comparing his side again with the treble winners, but admitted a readiness for that scenario, “Certainly the same will happen with us, so we have to be ready in that.”
Danny Murphy disagrees with Maresca
Pundit Danny Murphy has disputed this claim from Maresca that his side are the leagues most important team.
Speaking on talkSport, Murphy said he doesn’t think Leicester are the biggest club in the Championship, before naming who he thinks is.
He said that, “I think he is a bit naïve thinking Leicester is a place of reward for people whether they will go there, the stadium is a bit open it’s not intimidating,
“I don’t think just by seeing a replica of the trophy or a few pictures as you walk through the halls of Leicester as a Championship player that you would then go ‘Oh my God we really want to beat them today’.”
He instead thought Leeds would be a far bigger prospective opponent, “From my personal experience you are more likely to go ‘I really want to beat you today because we are away at Leeds, the stadium’s full and this is brilliant’.”
Murphy however did respect the confidence of Maresca and believes they will get back to the Premier League despite losing multiple high profile players.