Leicester City are a team evolving under Claude Puel

Claude Puel is bringing progression to this Foxes team

Just six games into his tenure as Leicester City boss, Claude Puel has already put his own print on the Foxes.

Under Puel, one of the most noticeable changes so far has been how we’ve become a better footballing side. Ball retention has been a key issue for us in recent years, but Puel has addressed this, and we are now controlling games far better than we used to.

In the past when we’ve been under the cosh in games, because of us not being great at keeping the ball, we would frequently invite more pressure onto ourselves. This was a typical Leicester trait.

Whilst we’re not the finished article in game management yet, Puel is trying to get the players to take the sting out of games more by keeping possession. Having the calm head of Vicente Iborra in centre midfield has been a huge aid to this.

Another welcome change by Claude Puel has been a plan B. Under both Claudio Ranieri and Craig Shakespeare, we didn’t have a recognised, alternative way of playing to get results.

In his first game in charge against Everton a few months ago, Puel opted for the 4-2-3-1 formation, a shape he has used in games since then. A formation change has been the longstanding elephant in the room for us, with both Ranieri and Shakespeare reluctant to alter how we set up.

But in 4-2-3-1, Claude has found a new formation which can act as an alternative to 4-4-2. Claude has realised a plan B was needed and he has implemented one.

I doubted whether the current group of players could adapt to a new way of playing, but they are doing it for Puel and things are looking good.

Bringing the youngsters through - Puel’s reputation has substance to it

Claude Puel came to Leicester City with a reputation of bringing youngsters through. Most managers admit they are all for integrating youngsters into the first team, but Puel’s reputation of this has substance to it.

Both Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell have featured heavily under Puel so far. He has also handed 20 year old centre midfielder Hamza Choudhury his Premier League home debut, coming on to play in Leicester’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

We have actually become more dynamic going forward

Claude was labeled as a negative manager when he was at Southampton in the 2016/17 season. But judging from his time at Leicester City, this isn’t the case.

Under Puel, we’ve actually become more dynamic going forward. Our counter attacks are being created with quick, slick passing. In the past, it has sometimes been too hit & hope when it comes to our attacking play, but under Claude we have been moving away from long balls and producing some quality attacking football.

Our attacking players, in particular Demarai Gray and Riyad Mahrez, have flourished from having more freedom to express themselves under Puel.

A better manager & appointment than people think

If you look at the recent appointments at fellow Premier League clubs Everton and West Brom, the appointment of Claude Puel is looking like a very good move. As opposed to sticking with the safety of Sam Allardyce and Alan Pardew, Leicester have been innovative by appointing a manager who has genuine ambition and direction for the club moving forward.