Ricardo Pereira says the Leicester defence deserves just as much respect as their attacking comrades for the club’s superb start to the season. Pereira joined the Foxes from Porto in the summer of 2018 and marked his debut campaign by winning both the Player of the Season and the Players’ Player of the Season awards.
The Portuguese has continued to excel this term, scoring twice in his 11 Premier League outings to play a vital role in the club’s ascent to third in the standings.
A top-four place looks a real possibility, while a title challenge for Brendan Rodgers’ men has also been mooted.
Much of their success has been down to their flowing attacking play, netting 27 times in the league, twice more than leaders Liverpool.
Last month’s record-breaking 9-0 win at Southampton was arguably the best offensive performance of the season not just in England, but potentially Europe.
Rightly their forwards have earned plaudits but Pereira and his fellow defenders Caglar Coyuncu, Jonny Evans and Ben Chilwell have also played a key role in their success.
With just eight goals conceded, Leicester have the Premier League’s joint-best defensive record alongside Sheffield United.
Their latest clean sheet came in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Crystal Palace, a match in which the Foxes dug deep to seal a well-earned three points.
While goals usually equal glory, Pereira says he and his fellow defenders enjoy the challenge of keeping them out at one end to help their colleagues do the business at the other. “That’s our job, but not only the defenders, the whole team, it’s important for that,” he told the club website. “If we don’t take goals, we are closer to winning the game.
Next up for Rodgers’ side is the visit of Arsenal on Saturday, with a trip to Brighton on the cards the other side of the international break.
COMMENTS