Leicester City impressed in their 4-2 defeat against Chelsea on Sunday but Enzo Maresca must fix one big problem.
The Foxes more than matched their Premier League opposition on Sunday and looked like the team in ascendency heading into the final half an hour.
Ultimately, Callum Doyle’s 73rd-minute dismissal allowed the hosts to regain control and they made their advantage count by netting two goals in stoppage time to progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
For all of City’s good work, particularly in possession and when driving forward, they came up stuck in defence.
Jannik Vestergaard, who has enjoyed a stellar campaign in the Championship, perhaps showed that he’ll struggle in the top flight if City do return.
As did much of the back four, who were caught out on a number of occasions in the thrilling six-goal affair.
Enzo Maresca has a big problem to fix to address at the end of the season.
Enzo Maresca must fix Leicester City’s defence
The Foxes have the second-best defence in the Championship, behind the league leaders Leeds United who have shipped just 28 goals.
But up against a Premier League side on Sunday, it was obvious that personnel will have to change if they go up.
Nicolas Jackson breezed past Vestergaard for the first goal, with the big Dane struggling to match his pace and agility.
Hamza Choudhury was caught out for the second, as he allowed Raheem Sterling to ghost in behind him before the Englnad international squared it for Cole Palmer to stroke home.
And to compound their defensive woes, Jackson turned Vestergaard with ease before being brought down by Doyle, who was shown a straight red card.
With 10 men, City fought well but eventually couldn’t withstand the Chelsea pressure and shipped another two goals in added time.
Whilst there were plenty of positives to take from the game, it perhaps uncovered where Leicester need to improve most in the summer transfer window.
Leicester City need defensive reinforcement
For much of the season, many have felt Leicester’s defence is pretty rock solid, and it certainly has been. But that is in the Championship.
Up against Chelsea side who currently reside in the bottom half of the Premier League, they looked out of their depth, in all honesty.
So if the East Midlanders make an instant return to the top flight, Jon Rudkin and Maresca will have to draw up a list of transfer targets that can add pace to their backline.
That appeared to be the main issue on Sunday. Whilst Vestergaard and Doyle are exceptional on the ball, they do lack pace and up against Jackson, they couldn’t keep up.
Third-choice defender Conor Coady is in a similar position, so it is only really Wout Faes and young Ben Nelson who have a turn of speed.
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