Leicestershire

Latest Updates

  1. Cifuentes on academy talents and Mavididi's misspublished at 10:41 BST 25 September

    A close-up of Leicester City forward Stephy MavididiImage source, Getty Images

    Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes has been speaking to the media before his side's trip to West Bromwich Albion on Friday night (20:00 BST).

    Here are the key lines:

    • There are no additional injuries following their 0-0 draw against Coventry last Saturday.

    • On academy graduate Louis Page, who signed his first professional contract after making his first-team debut this season against Huddersfield Town: "I'm a big believer in Louis' talent, I think he will be important and I'm very happy on the steps he's been taking since I've been here."

    • Fellow graduate Luke Thomas also signed a new deal, with Cifuentes saying that the 24-year-old is "one of the best performers" in the squad.

    • On Ryan Mason's West Bromwich Albion: "They are a good team with a good manager. It's a strong club in the Championship and especially at home, it's difficult to get points there. I'm sure if we keep on improving areas of the game - I was quite happy on the last performance despite the result - I think we could get something."

    • On Stephy Mavididi and his missed chance against Coventry: "When a player has the quality he's got, there's always big expectations around him him. He knew it was a big chance but the thing I value is the most is he's trying. He's trying again and again.

    • "He had a very good season two years ago in the Championship so probably everyone expects him to be at the same level if not better. It's not easy for him, the last season was not the best for him."

  2. Six teams in Championship play-offs 'dilutes it' - Smithpublished at 17:02 BST 24 September

    Media caption,

    72+ EFL Pod: Blackburn bother & ballers as chocolate bars

    A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

    The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

    "It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

    "From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

    The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

    After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

    "To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

    "Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

  3. 🎧 Are Leicester heading in the right direction?published at 11:32 BST 23 September

    Media caption,

    When You're Smiling: Ricardo and Winks make the difference and JJ's point to prove

    "We are creating an identity for ourselves. It's still early on in the season but I think you can see the patterns we are trying to create and it's creating chances so hopefully next game it can all come together," Foxes midfielder Jordan James tells BBC Radio Leicester after their 0-0 draw against Coventry City on Saturday.

    Owynn Palmer-Atkin is joined by former Leicester City winger Matt Piper to discuss a goalless M69 derby on the weekend and the positives the Foxes can take from a match lacking teeth.

    Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling and more Leicester City content on BBC Sounds.

    Listen on BBC Sounds