The manager wants a squad that is ‘100 per cent committed’ after he revealed that some players in his squad requested moves in the summer remained at the King Power Stadium
Marti Cifuentes at the King Power Stadium before the 2-1 win over West Brom
Marti Cifuentes at the King Power Stadium before the 2-1 win over West Brom
Marti Cifuentes hopes Leicester City can move on wantaway players in order to leave him with a squad that is “100 per cent involved and 100 per cent committed”.
Cifuentes revealed on Thursday that some players who had asked to leave City in the summer had remained at the club for the first half of the campaign.
He’s now hoping that the players who see their futures elsewhere are able to get out of the King Power Stadium, giving him a group where everybody wants to play for City.
Cifuentes did not name any names, but Harry Winks has been left out of the City squad for the past eight matches, while Wout Faes has not made it onto the pitch in the same time period. Both could leave City if suitable offers arrive this month.
“Now we need to see what happens during this window. The reality is that we want everybody here to be 100 per cent involved and 100 per cent committed. Now in a transfer window, anything can happen. I expect there will be departures.
“I don’t want to speak about individuals. But there were players who, when I arrived, were quite clear that it was not about the manager or anything else, but that they felt their time at the club was over.
“Then of course, what we ask is for everyone to conduct themselves in a very professional way because at the end, it’s about showing respect to the club, showing respect to the staff, showing respect to the fans.
“Now there’s a new window for everyone that might be thinking they want to try something else. I’m fine with that. Football is about cycles and finding the right time to finish something.
“I’m quite calm that everybody understands the professionalism we expect from them. Because at the end of the day, it’s a small world, football.
“That’s the only thing we ask of those players that don’t want to stay here. We still have three-and-a-half weeks left and we will see what happens.
“I’m respectful of everyone’s career. The career of a player is a very short one. I understand when a player feels their time at Leicester is over. It’s fine.
“But the reality is that there needs to be the right offer, an offer the club thinks is a good one, then we’ll shake hands and wish them good luck. There’s not an exception on that approach.
“All that we ask them is that until the last day they are at Leicester, that they do the best for the club and for everyone involved here, as that’s what it means to be a good professional.”
However, when asked if every player in his squad had been a good professional, Cifuentes did not give a straight answer.
Instead, he said: “I always try to get the best from my players.”
City have already seen one player depart with Julian Carranza returning to Feyenoord. As well as Winks and Faes, Boubakary Soumare and Patson Daka will naturally have doubts over their futures, with both in the final six months of their contracts.
Be the first to comment