Former Leicester City star Matt Piper has identified the one area the Foxes have been missing this season.
It’s been a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign for Steve Cooper’s side, who are still waiting for their first Premier League win.
Last weekend’s defeat away to Arsenal means that the Foxes are part of an unwanted record alongside Southampton and Ipswich Town as the first three newly promoted clubs who have failed to win any of their first six Premier League games in 20 years.
Leicester have scored in every game so far and despite the heroics of Mads Hermansen, which earned himself a place in Troy Deeney’s Team of the Weekend, are leaking goals, left, right, and centre, and Piper believes there is one thing the club are lacking.
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Matt Piper concerned about lack of leadership at Leicester City
The defensive frailties shown this season by Leicester have seen plenty of fans voicing for change at the back.
James Justin, Wout Faes, Caleb Okoli, and Victor Kristiansen have been the preferred options in the games against Crystal Palace, Everton, and Arsenal. But, with an average age of 24 between them, experience is lacking.
Speaking on the When You’re Smiling Podcast, former Leicester midfielder and pundit Piper feels that there is no leadership in the Foxes’ backline.
He said: I’ve played with players that just shout things and you think ‘Has he helped me or helped anyone with what he’s saying? No.’
“You get players that just say things at certain times to appear talkative on the pitch, but are they actually leading? Are they giving players advice, support, and guidance while they’re out there? That’s what I think we do lack.”
Ricardo Pereira can help solve Leicester City leadership crisis
One player who certainly knows a thing or two about leadership is Ricardo Pereira.
The right-back is yet to feature in the Premier League this season and has only been restricted to Carabao Cup appearances so far but at the age of 30, is well-equipped to lead from the back.
Pereira has worn the armband many times for the Foxes since his move from Porto in 2018.
Fans have also called for Justin to be dropped after a series of questionable performances. And even though he scored twice in the Arsenal defeat, the 26-year-old would be one to drop out should Cooper decide to reintroduce Pereira to the fold.