Leicester City’s manager, Enzo Maresca, commented on his team’s performance after they snapped their losing streak with a 1-0 win over Sunderland, suggesting that the victory was achieved despite a subpar display, particularly when compared to their recent losses. The win at the Stadium of Light, secured by an early goal from Jamie Vardy, allowed Leicester City to maintain their five-point lead over third place, despite a performance that left much to be desired beyond the opening 15 minutes. The team heavily depended on goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to fend off Sunderland’s long-range shots, especially in a challenging second half.
Maresca admitted that Leicester City had shown superior form in their preceding defeats to Middlesbrough, Leeds, and QPR. Yet, by managing to win against Sunderland despite not playing well, Leicester demonstrated their capability to secure ugly victories—a trait Maresca values for the remainder of the season.
“It was crucial to secure a win tonight after three consecutive losses,” Maresca reflected. “This might have been our poorest performance, especially in the second half. We didn’t replicate the quality of play from our recent defeats. However, football is ultimately about seizing opportunities. Unlike in our losses, where we failed to capitalize on numerous chances, tonight, we managed to find the net through Jamie.”
Maresca emphasized the importance of learning to win games without dominating, highlighting the team’s resilience in the face of adversity. “Winning games in this manner is significant. We had to endure a lot in the second half. The collective effort to overcome this challenge is a crucial step forward for us as a team,” he stated.
The victory was particularly significant as Leicester City’s promotion rivals, Ipswich and Leeds, also secured wins. Leeds managed a 1-0 win against Stoke with a strong second-half defense, while Ipswich mounted a late comeback to defeat Bristol City 3-2, maintaining their impressive form.
