The Championship run-in schedule for Leicester City has been criticized by manager Enzo Maresca, who feels the Foxes are at a disadvantage when compared to promotion rivals Leeds United and Ipswich Town.
The Italian saw his team lose at Millwall on Tuesday night before returning up the M1 to Leicestershire the same evening. On Friday, the team will travel to Plymouth Argyle, who are in danger of relegation, for an 8 p.m. kickoff. Daniel Farke, the manager of Leeds United, has made comments about quick turnarounds between matches during the season. This was especially true during the Whites’ demanding February schedule, which saw them travel to Plymouth twice in a two-week period.
But Leeds triumphed in a particularly difficult run of games in the middle of the season, something Leicester has thus far found difficult to match.
However, Maresca feels that his club is unfairly handicapped by their schedule, which has them playing before their two opponents who are guaranteed promotions, who face each other on Saturday afternoon.
“As of right now, we are the only team among our rivals to have played two away games: we are the only club that played on Tuesday night and Friday.
“I don’t think athletes’ health is something that people worry about too much since without it, this kind of decision would be incomprehensible.
“We returned at three in the morning after our Tuesday night show. We have to travel today, which is Thursday. Although the organization decided that, the travel back from Plymouth will take five hours.
“I am concerned, absolutely, 100 per cent about my players and about all the players that they play after 48 hours, two games in a row away, Plymouth, the longest trip of the season and arriving at 3am.”
Maresca has previously been at odds with the Leicester fanbase this season, many of whom have been left dissatisfied by the head coach’s possession-heavy style of play, even though the club remain in pole position to be promoted.
The 44-year-old is under increasing pressure to clinch an automatic spot after squandering a significant lead at the top of the table since the Christmas period. Failure to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking could result in a firesale of the Foxes’ best players this summer, as the club struggles to comply with Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
“If the players don’t perform, they are bad. No, they are not bad, they are human beings.
51 of the 50 games we have played this season have been in the championship. People don’t care that they are human,” Maresca continued.
Leicester’s five remaining games this season begin this weekend with a trip to Devon to begin the Championship schedule. After that, they host Southampton and West Bromwich Albion in a three-day span, then go to Preston North End to conclude the season at home against Blackburn Rovers.
