Leicester City concluded their pre-season tour of Southern Spain under new manager Russell Martin following a 1-0 victory over Cadiz and a 3-3 draw against Malaga. The Foxes are now refining their tactics ahead of their upcoming clash with Northampton.
Russell Martin is aggressively instilling a winners’ mentality at Leicester City. He demands relentless intensity during daily passing drills, warning his players that fast execution without detail will not be accepted. Beyond tactical press-breaking work, the manager made a conscious effort to build strong relationships off the pitch. Challenging younger players to hotel table tennis matches, the Leicester boss joked: “I didn’t know they put that picture out! I want it on record that I beat Bade [Aluko], I beat Kevon [Gray], I beat Kirsten [Otchere],”
The camp in Spain provided a crucial platform for team bonding ahead of a demanding campaign. Players and backroom staff spent extensive time together, creating dynamic chemistry within the group. On the atmosphere around the hotel base, Martin noted: “They have been really top here. I’ve been so impressed. As the week’s gone on, the more time they’ve spent together. The players have spent time together, having fun, so it’s been good to see that.”
On the pitch, high-tempo training drills paid off during match action. Leicester struggled against Cadiz’s aggressive pressing before finding space to carve open Malaga’s defense. However, conceding a last-minute equaliser in the six-goal thriller highlighted areas that still require serious sharpening. Looking ahead to their next test, Martin admitted: “We have a difficult game next week. We will get them ready for that and make sure we’re sharpening the stuff that we need to work on.”
The focus now switches to finalizing preparations for the opening fixture of the competitive season. Martin, along with coaches Conor Hourihane and Andy King, will continue pushing standards. Outlining his tactical plan, Martin added: “It’s about prioritising what we feel will get us in the best place for the first game against Northampton, but also making sure we don’t miss anything. It’ll be another week of work and I’m looking forward to it.”
