Leicester City head coach Marti Cifuentes has called for reinforcements after his side opened the new year with a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United, the club’s first New Year’s Day loss since 2008.
City were second best throughout at Bramall Lane, with Cifuentes conceding that the Blades outperformed his team in almost every department. He admitted Leicester failed to match the hosts’ intensity and were undone by repeated errors, both in and out of possession.
When asked how those issues can be addressed, the Spaniard pointed to the January transfer window, which has now opened.
“We keep training and we keep pushing,” Cifuentes said. “We are in a difficult situation with injuries. The window is open, so hopefully we can get the help we need at the same time.
“Everyone knows we have to improve and reinforce. We have injuries, but as a team we always want to get better.”
Cifuentes also stressed the need for greater responsibility from the players already at the club, highlighting a lack of accountability during the defeat. He felt all three Sheffield United goals stemmed from individual mistakes.
“It was not a good performance,” he said. “Credit to Sheffield United because they were better in most areas of the game. We were not at the level required.
“This league has a clear reality. You need to run and you need to win your duels, and we did not do that. Three individual mistakes led directly to the three goals. That is costly.
“There were too many turnovers and we need to show more personality on the ball. We need a higher level of accountability. We came from a game with good energy, and today it was completely different.
“Consistency is a big issue. This league is relentless. You have to compete at your best every time. The basics are running, winning duels, and then playing your football. If you do not do those things, it becomes very difficult. Sheffield United were much better than us in that respect.”
Cifuentes added that Leicester were fully aware of the challenge they would face but failed to respond.
“We knew how Sheffield United would play and we prepared for it. But we lost duels all over the pitch. When we had the ball, we made too many technical mistakes and could not build momentum. The first 60 minutes were poor.
“At half-time I told the players that even if things are not going well, you still have to compete and grind it out.
“The first goal came from a mistake at a set-piece, both in marking and in the six-yard box. The second and third goals were also individual errors. We need to fix these issues collectively.
“It was a disappointing display. In this league, you must be ready to perform again and again at full intensity and avoid costly mistakes.
“There is no hiding from it. This has been a constant issue, and as a coach I also have to do better in correcting those problems.”