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Claude Puel: Leicester players did not let manager down - Mike Stowell

Last updated on .From the section Leicestercomments316

Claude Puel
Claude Puel was sacked on Sunday after 16 months in charge

Leicester City's players did not let down sacked manager Claude Puel, says Foxes first-team coach Mike Stowell.

The Frenchman was dismissed after 16 months in charge following Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Crystal Palace.

He left the club 12th in the Premier League having lost five of their past six league games.

"The results are poor, but the performances have been good," said Stowell, who is in temporary charge alongside Adam Sadler.

"It's always sad when a manager loses his job but I wouldn't say that the players let him down.

"We just didn't get the rub of the green sometimes and when mistakes happen they are not made deliberately."

Puel guided Leicester to a ninth-place finish in the English top flight in his first season but the club are now looking for their fourth manager in 23 months.

In a statement, 57-year-old Puel, who took over in October 2017, said it had been an "honour" to manage the club.

"I really appreciate the willingness to learn and work ethic of all of the players and I have no doubt that they will all have bright futures," he said.

Stowell said Puel had the "club at heart", adding: "He brought several good things to the club.

"The players are disappointed with the results and are angry with the performances. They're not angry with the boss."

Speaking at a news conference before Leicester host Brighton in the league on Tuesday (19:45 GMT), Stowell said: "I've spoken to the players and told them how good they are and reminded them that they are a top-seven team. That's where we should be and that's where we should be aiming to get back to."

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez is out of contract this summer and has been linked with the vacant Foxes job, alongside Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and ex-Hibernian manager Neil Lennon, who spent four seasons with Leicester as a player.

Asked about the shortlist for the vacancy at the King Power Stadium, Benitez said: "Short? It's not very short, it's quite long now."

"I think you know my answer. I am really focusing on the next games."

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316 comments

  • Comment posted by Adam Longley, at 15:38 25 Feb 2019

    Pretty sure most people commenting are not Leicester fans. if they were they would know that the likes of Vardy had not "downed tools". They were just asked to perform in a system which completely unsuited them. Also, we don't expect to win the league again, however we do expect to take the cup competitions seriously and not start a weakened team in a quarter final (twice).

  • Comment posted by Geordie, at 15:24 25 Feb 2019

    Leicester did something truly remarkable when they won the league, but the reason it was so remarkable was because it was so improbable. Reality is now required. Get a solid manager and don't have unrealistic expectations.

  • Comment posted by Watto, at 15:38 25 Feb 2019

    Yet again armchair fans of other clubs that only see the league table & MOTD highlights think they know better.

    We have been woeful to watch. Vardy is one of the best strikers outside the top 6 & Puels football starved him of service, madness.

    We’ve won 12 in 42 & lost at home to Soton, Cardiff & Palace. All clubs outside the top 6 should be aiming for 7th & a cup run, it’s called ambition.

  • Comment posted by kirkhillman, at 16:11 25 Feb 2019

    I would not recommend Rodgers. He believes that Celtic's success here in Scotland against very inferior opposition is down to his brilliance but that he bears no responsibility for their regular early elimination in European competitions. That's always due to bad luck or bad refereeing.

  • Comment posted by john-not-in-hendon, at 15:28 25 Feb 2019

    money has ruined top level football... the evidence is everywhere, im afraid..

  • Comment posted by JuliusCaesarWasASocialist, at 16:29 25 Feb 2019

    Yes they did. And the fans.

    The man was basically sacked because he's got a strong French accent, gives boring, dull interviews and actually stood up to chavs with an inflated sense of power like Jamie Vardy.

    Peul should hold his head high. Two jobs in England; two, good steady jobs done. Leaves with his reputation intact and will go elsehwere where people are treated with more dignity

  • Comment posted by terrytibbs, at 15:28 25 Feb 2019

    Leicester need to realistic. 2015/16 was no fluke whatsoever -- it was totally deserved and they ran away with it. However, you can't offload your best players and the manager than made it all happen when you're aiming to do it all again and include Europe. Leicester deserve to be scratching their heads right now -- they've got it all wrong.

  • Comment posted by Display name, at 15:31 25 Feb 2019

    Stowell said: "reminded them that they are a top-seven team."

    There is your answer. Leicester sacked a very good manager because they think they are the best team in the PL outside of Man City, United, LFC, AFC, CFC & Tottenham. In my opinion, this is unrealistic. Leicester really need to manager their ambitions better.

  • Comment posted by U17051821, at 15:23 25 Feb 2019

    Of course the players let him down. Just like the players of any club in bad form let the club down, nobody else is to blame...

    PLAYERS either win, lose or draw matches...

    Nothing or Nobody else, it's always the players.

  • Comment posted by Galvatron, at 15:45 25 Feb 2019

    Personally, I am very happy that Leicester aspire to be the best of the rest and not settle for mid table mediocrity as many posts seem to suggest in this feed and in other feeds.

  • Comment posted by ernest chimp, at 16:25 25 Feb 2019

    Its really funny that when Leicester sack a manager the players are called snakes yet Man U sack Mourinho win 8 on the bounce and its all down to Solskjaer's genius! double standards or what? What Leicester have achieved is bound to cause jealousy with fans of teams who have won nothing for years , but who do we think we are ? Have a look at your own team and weep!

  • Comment posted by Thank God for Library Computers, at 15:48 25 Feb 2019

    if i can give my humble opinion as a wolves fan.
    he seemed to make some strange team selections in the cups because leicester are unlikely to be relegated.
    although he did seem to handle the helicopter disaster with dignity & class.

  • Comment posted by MOI, at 17:45 25 Feb 2019

    The players did let Puel down and especially the ‘backstabbing’ Jamie Vardy who is so obviously ‘running the dressing room - just as he was when he got Ranieri the sack ! Yet again he is stated as saying ‘there was no problem between him and the manager - seems the needle had stuck on this statement ! I really pity the next Manager who has to ‘manage’ this team with Vardy running the show.

  • Comment posted by Me, at 16:31 25 Feb 2019

    Yes they did. I remember hearing the same thing when Ranieri was sacked and the next game they played out of their skin and beat Liverpool. No new manager can have that much of an impact in such a short space of time. Watch them go in their next game.

  • Comment posted by User0099923443, at 17:33 25 Feb 2019

    Claude Puel: Leicester players did not let manager down Funny they say that after every manager they sack. The truth of the matter is this is how the club declines when you sell your better players.

  • Comment posted by footyfan, at 15:56 25 Feb 2019

    And all the players said that they didn't let Ranieri down either. The players said so, so it must be true!!!!

  • Comment posted by Pmr74, at 16:07 25 Feb 2019

    I've heard a lot about how the main problem is not playing to Vardys' strengths. Well one player doesn't make a team and Vardy won't go on forever. From what i've seen of them this season they've played very well on most occasions but have not been clinical enough and have made individual errors which can't be blamed on Puel. I think he's been very unlucky. Not sure who Leicester think they are!

  • Comment posted by Vincent Van Driver, at 19:34 25 Feb 2019

    158. Doctor Sorders
    @156

    Got through to the last 16 then.

    No, we didn't get to the last 16
    We got to the quarter finals or the last 8, if you prefer.

    As I said, get your facts right.

  • Comment posted by saddletramp , at 16:42 25 Feb 2019

    @75:Wooster.

    "Puels system doesn't suit the players"

    So how come Leicester were 6th at the end of November playing the same system ?

  • Comment posted by PP007, at 15:39 25 Feb 2019

    Why not make Vardy player-manager, then he can play the style that suits him... Pity he doesn't take into account that it was Kante, Mahrez and Drinkwater that made him look better than what he is.... Since they have gone what has he really done.... He's 32, of course you've got to look to the future...

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