What Marti Cifuentes' first Leicester City interview revealed about his plans

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New Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes has revealed his ideas and plans to take the club forward following his appointment on Tuesday.

The Spaniard sat down with City to conduct an introductory interview, detailing his emotions and thoughts after signing a three-year deal at the King Power Stadium.

Here are five takeaways from his comments.

A need to hit the ground running – but final version some time off

As the final club in England to appoint a manager for the new season, City could do with Cifuentes making an instant impact to get them ready for the upcoming campaign.

Albeit, he does have more than three weeks, which is more time than he was granted at QPR, when he was thrown straight into the thick of the action, taking over in late October.

At Loftus Road, Cifuentes won three of his first six matches, losing just one, and while a seven-game winless run followed, that initial burst ensured they were at least within touching distance of safety.

But while Cifuentes is capable of making an instant impact, he suggested that the final version of his ideal City team won’t be seen for some time.

“So far I’ve been a lucky coach because it’s true we achieved (at QPR) not just a very important target but a big challenge, because it was not an easy situation,” Cifuentes said.

“To achieve targets in football, you need from everyone. It’s not a one-man task. It’s especially the players, they must be the ones getting the headlines. But at the same time it’s about the staff behind the scenes working relentlessly, and the fans.”

He added: “Some of the reasons that attract me to be here is I think there is a good fit between the quality of the players and the style of football I like to play.

“It will take some time before we see the version of the team I would like to see, but I will say the base is going to be there from day one.”

A team that fans are proud of – even in losses

Cifuentes spoke about the importance of building a team and developing a style of play that the fans can connect with, and suggested he hopes that the tenets of his gameplan will still be visible even when the team lose.

While he will want to restrict the number of defeats, they’re not totally avoidable. City are going to lose occasionally.

But while it’s easy to have pride in the team after a victory, if he can develop a side that leaves fans satisfied even in defeat, they’ll be on the right track.

He said: “It’s important to build a relationship with the fans. Hopefully we’re going to deliver what they want.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the team, that they (the fans) feel this engagement, every time we play, with the way we attack, with the way we face the games, with the way we approach the games, that they feel it’s exactly what they want.

“Some days, hopefully many, we’re going to win. Some days we’re going to lose. I want them to go home and be sad about the result but still proud about the effort of the team.”

Dominant, relentlessly attacking, and fun style

So what is the gameplan Cifuentes wants to introduce? He would like his team to control possession, and so that includes winning the ball back as soon as possible, while he wants them to be relentlessly attacking no matter the scoreline.

It’s all in the name of being fun to watch for supporters.

He said: “My purpose is to be a dominant team. I want a team that has an attacking way of understanding the game.

“Despite the score being 1-0, we are always chasing the second and third one. I want the fans to have fun.

“It will be about being very competitive, we’re here to win football games, but doing it in a certain way.

“That means being dominant, to try to regain the ball quick, to use the ball to move the positions, create the spaces and create as many chances as we can."

‘Other tools’ may be required

But City cannot steadfast stand by their gameplan. Those are core principles, but playing the same way every week will not lead to results.

Cifuentes is aware that “other tools” will be required against some of the sides City face in the Championship this season.

He said: “I have learned about each team and the ways of playing you can find across the league. It’s been a good learning for me the past two years.

“Some days, the position plays a big part in this game. We’re going to face different kinds of opposition. Some teams will play very aggressive, almost man-to-man, with a high press, which requires certain things.

“Sometimes we’re going to face teams that will stay low and deep and we’re going to need to use other tools.”

Self-esteem boost needed ahead of mental strain of Championship

City are in the Championship after suffering relegation, and so Cifuentes is aware that his squad may need a pick-me-up. He’s got three weeks to get their heads right and boost their self-esteem.

Given the mental strain of a 46-game Championship campaign, it’s important the players are in the right frame of mind to attack the season.

He said: “We know a little bit about how they (the City players) performed last season but at the same time we want to meet them and understand where they are mentally.

“I’m aware that after a difficult season we need to make sure we recover their self-esteem and this understanding that they’re very good football players. I’m here to make sure they are aware of that.

“Everybody knows how tough and ruthless this league can be. It’s 46 games and it’s a very demanding league, not just physically, but mentally. It demands a lot from all of the players and the staff.”

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