Sunderland’s visit to the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night comes after two consecutive losses, but they are still in the playoff positions despite their strong start to the season.
Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has urged his players to display courage when facing a well-coached Leicester City team with exceptionally talented individuals. The Black Cats may have suffered two recent defeats, but they are holding the sixth spot in the division. Despite taking on a City side striving to become the first second-tier team to win 12 of their first 13 games since 1905, Mowbray wants his team to adopt an attacking stance.
He does not wish for his team to endure a constant barrage of attacks, which he acknowledges is something Leicester is capable of. Mowbray stated: “We need to show bravery, have faith in the skills of our players on the field, and enable them to express themselves.
“When I observe Leicester, I see that they possess some outstanding individuals who can pose a serious threat to our team. We must be aware of their abilities and aim to implement our style of play.
“We should aim to maintain a significant share of ball possession that puts them on the defensive and forces them to retreat toward their own goal, rather than having to constantly defend against their relentless attacks. In some of their matches, they employ this strategy, continuously mounting waves of offensive pressure until they eventually break through. A lot of credit for that goes to their coach.”
Mowbray praised the work done by Enzo Maresca in just a few months at the helm of the King Power Stadium, highlighting the similarities between Leicester and Manchester City.
“When I watch them play, it’s evident that they are well-drilled,” he remarked. “The coach deserves a lot of recognition for the team he has built. They play in a manner very similar to our approach, the way they construct their play, transitioning from a back four to a midfield three. They are a tactically astute football team. Maresca spent time with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, and that influence is readily apparent when watching his team play, as they exhibit a strong emphasis on positional football. They are a formidable force. When accomplished players execute positional football, it becomes quite challenging to contend with.”
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