Leicester City succumbed to the Elland Road atmosphere in their defeat to Leeds United, but Enzo Maresca is pleased with his team’s performance.
City lost the top-of-the-table encounter after surrendering three goals in the final ten minutes, denting their promotion hopes.
They had been the better team up to that point and had wasted several excellent opportunities to put the game away, with Maresca blaming poor finishing for the second game in a row after missing chances against Middlesbrough the previous weekend.
However, after Connor Roberts equalised for Leeds, the Elland Road supporters rallied behind their team, and Maresca confessed the hosts were “mentally better” than his side.
Leeds applied the pressure and earned three points thanks to Archie Gray’s deflected attempt and a Dan James free kick
“Until the goal we conceded, for 80 minutes we were in control of the game,”
“We dominated the game.”We created numerous opportunities.Football is about taking chances.
We missed.“In the final 10 minutes, in this type of stadium, when you surrender a goal, you sink a little bit, or they are mentally stronger than us.After we conceded the goal, they had a better mentality than we had.
“It is apparent that for 80 minutes, we dominated the game, controlled it, and generated numerous opportunities.
This type of game is difficult. We feel horrible because we lose points, but I’m really satisfied since we came here with attitude and played the way we ought to play”
It is not the first time City has dropped points late in a game.
They also conceded equalisers as the game ended against Ipswich, another promotion rival.
City were strong at the finish of games early in the season, but conceding late has become a trend that Maresca can’t pinpoint. “We also scored many goals at the end,” he went on to say.
“It is football. This happens. Tonight, I do not believe we were mentally weak. We dominated the game for 80 minutes before conceding a goal.
“In this stadium, it is simple for them to feel better than us when we concede. However, for 80 minutes, we were able to lower the atmosphere. Then the final ten minutes were incredible. “It is what it is.”
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