Enzo Maresca wasted no time in getting back to business. Just an hour after Leicester City won the Championship, he expressed his desire to sit down with the club and talk through matters he “didn’t like”.
It seems he’s keen for a greater say on, or at least greater communication over, transfers and finances as City head back up to the Premier League. And that comes with the manager now being named in the Spanish press as one of the coaches on Sevilla’s shortlist in their hunt for a new boss.
So is there any danger of Maresca leaving? Will his demands be met by City? Those are among the topics on our latest Q+A with supporters.
READ MORE: Leicester City accused of 'insult' over controversial issue as dispute rages on
READ MORE: Get your hands on our Leicester City promotion special edition packed with features and pictures
Also discussed are headed goals, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s future amid financial issues, potential points deductions, new contracts, and Maresca’s team selection for the final game of the season. You can read our answers below.
Q: Have we scored more headed goals in open play than normal? It feels like we've scored a lot of headers recently. Also, have we got one of the worst corners-to-goals-scored ratios in the league because they always seem like they are a waste of time?
A: It looks like you're bang on. I've just had a look at the stats and they've scored 15 headers this season, which is the second most in the league behind Norwich (16). And very few of those are from set-pieces. Most of those are from crosses from open play, which is a big part of Maresca's tactics, particularly with the run Ndidi makes to support Fatawu on the right. That was the move for Dewsbury-Hall's header against West Brom. But yes, crosses have been a big weapon for City this season and contributed to a lot of big goals. Dewsbury-Hall against Coventry on the opening weekend and Mavididi late on against Birmingham a few weeks ago pop to mind immediately.
Annoyingly, I can't find specific numbers for goals from corners in the Championship, so I can't work out the corners-to-goals ratio. But I would say you're right there too. We do have the Opta data for set-pieces as a whole, and so including free-kicks, and that suggests what we're seeing, that City are poor at creating from dead balls. The Opta data says City have scored 11 goals from set-pieces, which is joint-13th, but that the expected goals of the chances they've created is 9.48, which is the third-worst in the division. They've had the eighth highest number of corners in the league too, so it’s not unreasonable to think that expected goals figure should be higher. It's definitely an area to improve on.
Q: What friendlies are being planned for the summer, especially with Premier League opponents? And we must unload the ‘deadwood’ at any cost, which won’t be easy, considering the wages of some of these players. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to offer them severance packages and just part ways amicably?
A: There's no word on friendlies yet. As is the norm these days, it wouldn't surprise me if there was an overseas trip. Although, the Premier League Summer Series that saw six clubs face each other in the US last summer is not going ahead this year. If City don't head abroad, I imagine their plans will see them face a few lower-league local sides away from home before a top-quality European team at home.
On unloading deadwood, I guess it would probably be cheaper to do that, but we don’t see a lot of them, so maybe it’s not. I remember the club cancelling Benkovic's contract a couple of years ago, but he only had six months left on it at the time. But even if severance packages are cheaper than fringe players sitting around taking their wages for another couple of seasons, they don't look great on the books. If City are to go some way to satisfying Profit and Sustainability rules, they need to get these players out for a fee.
Q: Do you know if we get prize money for being champions? And can it be used to help our financial situation or to help purchase players?
A: I don't know the specific amount and a quick bit of research just now has not helped find an answer. But I have been told previously that it's barely worth writing home about. Winning the Championship is not going to help City's PSR situation or help fund signings, no.
Q: How reliable are the rumours of an Enzo exit?
A: Well, so far, the rumours are just that Sevilla quite like him. So there's no danger of an exit until they make an official approach. It seems the stories from Spain are that he's one of a number of potential coaches on their shortlist. Obviously, he was a big player there, helping them to win a Uefa Cup, so that adds an extra layer of romanticism about it.
But I do think Sevilla's apparent interest makes things intriguing. Maresca was very quick to say he wanted to sit down with the club and address matters he "didn't like", such as finances and transfers. That Maresca has brought that up publicly and that Sevilla may be interested means that City may feel they have to bow to Maresca's demands to ensure he stays at the club.
OPINIONWhere Leicester City can and can't meet Maresca demands as Dewsbury-Hall sale dilemma explained
Your questions answered on Maresca's summer hopes, potential interest from Sevilla in the manager, Dewsbury-Hall's future amid PSR considerations, new contracts, points deductions, and more
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ByJordan Blackwell
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Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca talks with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after the win at Norwich
Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca talks with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after the win at Norwich (Image: Joe Toth/REX/Shutterstock)
Enzo Maresca wasted no time in getting back to business. Just an hour after Leicester City won the Championship, he expressed his desire to sit down with the club and talk through matters he “didn’t like”.
It seems he’s keen for a greater say on, or at least greater communication over, transfers and finances as City head back up to the Premier League. And that comes with the manager now being named in the Spanish press as one of the coaches on Sevilla’s shortlist in their hunt for a new boss.
So is there any danger of Maresca leaving? Will his demands be met by City? Those are among the topics on our latest Q+A with supporters.
READ MORE: Leicester City accused of 'insult' over controversial issue as dispute rages on
READ MORE: Get your hands on our Leicester City promotion special edition packed with features and pictures
Also discussed are headed goals, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s future amid financial issues, potential points deductions, new contracts, and Maresca’s team selection for the final game of the season. You can read our answers below.
Q: Have we scored more headed goals in open play than normal? It feels like we've scored a lot of headers recently. Also, have we got one of the worst corners-to-goals-scored ratios in the league because they always seem like they are a waste of time?
A: It looks like you're bang on. I've just had a look at the stats and they've scored 15 headers this season, which is the second most in the league behind Norwich (16). And very few of those are from set-pieces. Most of those are from crosses from open play, which is a big part of Maresca's tactics, particularly with the run Ndidi makes to support Fatawu on the right. That was the move for Dewsbury-Hall's header against West Brom. But yes, crosses have been a big weapon for City this season and contributed to a lot of big goals. Dewsbury-Hall against Coventry on the opening weekend and Mavididi late on against Birmingham a few weeks ago pop to mind immediately.
Annoyingly, I can't find specific numbers for goals from corners in the Championship, so I can't work out the corners-to-goals ratio. But I would say you're right there too. We do have the Opta data for set-pieces as a whole, and so including free-kicks, and that suggests what we're seeing, that City are poor at creating from dead balls. The Opta data says City have scored 11 goals from set-pieces, which is joint-13th, but that the expected goals of the chances they've created is 9.48, which is the third-worst in the division. They've had the eighth highest number of corners in the league too, so it’s not unreasonable to think that expected goals figure should be higher. It's definitely an area to improve on.
Q: What friendlies are being planned for the summer, especially with Premier League opponents? And we must unload the ‘deadwood’ at any cost, which won’t be easy, considering the wages of some of these players. Wouldn’t it be cheaper to offer them severance packages and just part ways amicably?
A: There's no word on friendlies yet. As is the norm these days, it wouldn't surprise me if there was an overseas trip. Although, the Premier League Summer Series that saw six clubs face each other in the US last summer is not going ahead this year. If City don't head abroad, I imagine their plans will see them face a few lower-league local sides away from home before a top-quality European team at home.
On unloading deadwood, I guess it would probably be cheaper to do that, but we don’t see a lot of them, so maybe it’s not. I remember the club cancelling Benkovic's contract a couple of years ago, but he only had six months left on it at the time. But even if severance packages are cheaper than fringe players sitting around taking their wages for another couple of seasons, they don't look great on the books. If City are to go some way to satisfying Profit and Sustainability rules, they need to get these players out for a fee.
Q: Do you know if we get prize money for being champions? And can it be used to help our financial situation or to help purchase players?
A: I don't know the specific amount and a quick bit of research just now has not helped find an answer. But I have been told previously that it's barely worth writing home about. Winning the Championship is not going to help City's PSR situation or help fund signings, no.
Q: How reliable are the rumours of an Enzo exit?
A: Well, so far, the rumours are just that Sevilla quite like him. So there's no danger of an exit until they make an official approach. It seems the stories from Spain are that he's one of a number of potential coaches on their shortlist. Obviously, he was a big player there, helping them to win a Uefa Cup, so that adds an extra layer of romanticism about it.
But I do think Sevilla's apparent interest makes things intriguing. Maresca was very quick to say he wanted to sit down with the club and address matters he "didn't like", such as finances and transfers. That Maresca has brought that up publicly and that Sevilla may be interested means that City may feel they have to bow to Maresca's demands to ensure he stays at the club.
Enzo Maresca celebrates Leicester City's title win with chairman Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Q: In terms of selling players before July in order to avoid another PSR breach, would that just be a potential breach of EFL rules or also the Premier League? If another points deduction could only be applied in the Championship, surely the club would prefer to keep hold of KDH and just pay a fine again? Could you foresee a situation where he is sold in the summer when his preference is to stay?
A: Selling players this June would be to avoid a breach of EFL rules and the knock-on effect of that. What City decide to do probably does depend on the level of punishment, as you point out. Previously when clubs have breached financial rules en route to promotion, they've just been fined (as with City in 13-14). Points deductions have only been applied to teams still in the EFL.
So yes, in that sense, keeping Dewsbury-Hall and paying a fine could be a good idea. But if the fine is a big one (and we don't really have a ballpark figure at the moment), then that is going to impact City's ability to stay within PSR in the future. As far as the Premier League assessment for the three years up to June 2025 is concerned, City are already on the backfoot. We only know the finances from one of the three years that will be assessed, but it was a £90m loss, meaning City are going to have to work hard to stay within budget.
The last thing they'd want, given they're likely to start the new season with a points deduction, is to overcome it and stay up, but then be hit with another points deduction in 25-26. When QPR went up with City in 13-14, they breached FFP to such an extent they ended up with a £42m fine. If City were hit with a similar charge, they'd be in deep trouble over PSR thresholds going forward.
On top of that, I get the sense that the Premier League and EFL will start working more closely so that points deductions can pass between different leagues. Otherwise loads of relegated Premier League clubs will buy their way to promotion.
So yes, I can still see a situation where Dewsbury-Hall is sold, even though he wants to stay. I don't think they'd want to sell him, but it would be the simplest way to balance the books.
Q: When will we publicly know the amount that City are potentially in breach of financial requirements or do we have to wait to June 30th?
A: In terms of the Premier League charge against City, we will learn how much they have exceeded the PSR threshold by when the independent commission concludes their hearing. When it's done, the written reasons will be released and it should say in there how much City have gone past the £105m mark by.
The quickest a case has been heard so far was for Forest, and that took exactly nine weeks from the date they were charged. If matched, that would mean City get their news on May 23. But it wouldn't surprise me if it came after that as there is not the rush to get it done before the end of this season.
As for the potential breach of EFL rules, we won't know for a long time, I don't think. Only after June 30 will the EFL begin to analyse City's finances, and it could be a few months after that before we hear their assessment.
