Leicester City, battling inconsistency in the Championship, is poised to appoint a former Barcelona coach to inject elite tactical nous.
Leicester City’s push for Championship promotion has taken an intriguing turn with the addition of a seasoned analyst from Europe’s elite, aiming to sharpen Marti Cifuentes’ tactical edge at Seagrave.
The Foxes, languishing in third gear despite a solid squad, seek fresh insights to unlock set-piece woes and clinical finishing.
Amid praise for goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk—deemed the league’s top shot-stopper by post-shot expected goals, preventing 4.3 more than anticipated—the club bolsters its backroom with Catalan expertise.
The coach is Carlos Martinez, a video analyst who assisted Luis Enrique at Barcelona and contributed to Girona, Sevilla, Espanyol, Monaco, Granada, and Elche, as reported by Leicester Mercury.
Appointed as a consultant analyst last week, Martinez traveled with the squad to Hull and Millwall, already embedding his methods.
His Barcelona tenure under Enrique honed opposition breakdowns and pattern play, skills now targeted at Leicester’s stagnant attack and vulnerable dead-ball situations.
Cifuentes, the ex-QPR boss, welcomes Martinez’s pedigree to elevate training intensity and decision-making. Stolarczyk’s heroics—second only to Stoke’s Viktor Johansson in xG prevention—buy time, but set-piece frailty and blunt strikers demand urgent fixes.
Martinez’s first focus: transforming corners and free-kicks into weapons while drilling ruthlessness in the final third.
Leicester’s hierarchy views this hire as a statement of ambition, blending Premier League know-how with La Masia precision.
As the Foxes chase automatic spots, Martinez’s impact could prove pivotal, turning data into dominance.
With Stolarczyk anchoring the back, the Catalans’ arrival signals a smarter, sharper Leicester ready to roar.
With this high-profile addition, Leicester City signals serious intent to transform data into dominance and secure a Premier League return.
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