Football Insider Believe Marti Cifuentes Is Under Heavy Pressure, Winning At Carrow Road Might Not Be Enough

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Being very familiar with Marti Cifuentes from his days at Sandefjord Fotball. Following his team in every home game. Knowing many of his players in person, you understood what he could do. He made about 40 changes in player material in his two and half years at the club. He managed that club on a shoe string. He also had control over what went on.

Leicester is a very different animal. From outside we look at Marti Cifuentes as a very strong individual. One that had a clear direction, on the front foot and loyal to his ideas how to play football.

Doing well at one place is not a guarantee that he will do the same some place else. Ruben Amorim became manager of the month in Premier League in October. His journey at Man Utd has been very difficult. However, the owners have backed him and showed him belief.

We have seen a Leicester team that is not totally falling apart. After watching all games, it is clear they move in different directions during the 90 minutes. Either players decide by themselves to stop pushing the pedal. Alternatively, the manager decides to change pace at some point.

Ricardo Pereira showed promise in the game vs. Blackburn, having a number of runs and getting to know the player we know he is. Then he is dropped for Caleb Okoli in the next. Not involved at all, It’s a nightmare to watch. This has also happened to Oliver Skipp, Caleb Okoli, Patson Daka and Stephy Mavididi. Then suddenly they are back in from start, strange.

🦊 #LCFC | Marti Cifuentes has told BBC Sport Leicester that his side's effort against Middlesbrough was impressive.

Luke Ayling's late equaliser means that City's winless run continues, ahead of a trip to Carrow Road on Saturday.

🗣️ Cifuentes told BBC Sport Leicester that it… pic.twitter.com/DrtW1YlPUU
— BBC Sport Leicester (@BBCRLSport) November 4, 2025

Honestly, nothing against Middelsbrough was impressive. The only highlights were the penalty taken by Jordan Ayew and a fantastic save from Asmir Begovic. The rest was a game of medeocrity, so what movie Marti Cifuentes had watched, who knows. Leicester played against 10 men in the end. With a bit of control they would have passed the ball around easily when being one man more.

Football Insider believe Marti Cifuentes will be under heavy pressure and can be sacked after the Norwich game. What we see at the minute is a squad of players without a clear direction. Jacub Stolarczyk, Jannik Vestergaard, Jordan James and Abdul Fatawu are the only players that looks safe from game to game.

If you have too much rotation, your only hope is to have a bit of luck and players doing the job without using the pattern and relations build up. Then you are mostly in heavy trouble. This is so far from what we have seen of Marti Cifuentes in the past. You cannot really understand these are his own ideas.

Despite having many players whose futures are uncertain, the contract situations for each player are not yet clear. If you look at the recent rumours about players potentially coming in, you start to shiver. They are far from the level the current squad are at.

You look at the transfers made in the summer window. You start to wonder what is really going on at the football club. To play 4-3-3 possession orientated football, you need to address the players you will use.

Marti Cifuentes chose Jannik Vestergaard as a defender in the middle. This decision causes a problem when pressing high and aggressively. It creates certain gaps in movement. Just as Enzo Maresca did, they believe the qualities of Jannik Vestergaard are more important. The ball possession will give you lesser time to press. In that sense, they decide to pick him.

We are also not really understanding the use of Hamza Choudhury. He is a battler and tackling player. With Aaron Ramsey and Jordan James in there, you could have had a good and balanced midfield. But so far Hamza has been playing right back.

We cannot understand why a third choice goalkeeper signed a two-year deal at the club. This decision is puzzling when looking at the squad. We also question why Luke Thomas was given a four year deal. These actions seem irrational. The quality of those two players is far from what we believe is needed to survive in the top flight.

The following players have contracts running out next summer. They are Asmir Begovic, Ricardo Pereira, Bouba Soumare, Aaron Ramsey, Jordan James, Harry Winks, Julian Carranza, Patson Daka, Jordan Ayew, and Wanya Marcal. This counts 10 players who are out of contract as the season finish. Louis Page and Jeremy Monga can potentially leave the club on a free in the summer as well. Luke Thomas, Oliver Skipp and Abdul Fatawu are those with the longest contracts, ending in the summer of 2029. To build a team around those three would of course be a strange surprise.

There are problems all over and the squad build at the moment looks a difficult package. Marti Cifuentes has a heavy problem. He needs to determine who can be trusted going forward. He must decide what to do with the current group of players in the next few months.

The result at Norwich must be a win. Not even that can save his job. Marti Cifuentes looks a name in the history books at Leicester. Some fans believe Marti should be given time. However, everyone who knows a bit about football agrees. They think the players at his disposal should be able to get results at this level. If you believe something else, you don’t really understand the game much.

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