Enzo Maresca praised his Leicester players for the 5-0 thrashing of Southampton that put the Foxes a win away from clinching automatic promotion.
Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu scored three of them, with Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy also on target.
Leicester need only to win at Preston on Monday, or at home to Blackburn on the final day, to make sure they will finish ahead of at least one of Leeds or Ipswich. Indeed, if Leeds lose at QPR on Friday Leicester will be up before they take to the field again.
Maresca, in his first season as City manager, said: “I don’t think that was the best performance of the season but the performance was fantastic, very good on and off the ball.
“We could have been better on the ball but we are all very happy because the opposition are a fantastic team.
“The good thing about tonight is that now we know that with one win we get promoted.
“It was a good feeling at the end, the fans have been fantastic.”
Fatawu, on loan from Sporting Lisbon, opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played him through. The 20-year-old might have been offside but the flag stayed down. Southampton manager Russell Martin was also aggrieved that a challenge on Saints striker Che Adams by City defender Wout Faes was not given as a foul by referee Robert Madley.
The second half belonged to Leicester though, with Ndidi charging in to head home a cross from Stephy Mavididi to double the lead.
Fatawu struck again in the 75th minute when he accepted a pass from substitute Hamza Choudhury before smashing past goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
Fatawu set up Vardy for a well-taken fourth and completed the rout with an emphatic finish after the former England striker returned the favour.
Maresca, however, joked: “I just said ‘next game you will be on the bench’ because with Abdul and young players especially, after three goals he is already thinking he is a top player.”
Saints – famously beaten 9-0 by Leicester in the Premier League in 2019 – must now pick themselves up for the play-offs barring an extraordinary combination of results and scorelines.
Martin made it clear he would not be doing that for them though, so disappointed was he with their capitulation.
“The players need to show a bit of love for each other and pick each other up, I’m fed up of doing that,” he said.
“They need to feel some pain – the same pain that I’m feeling right now.
“Rolling over like that, it’s actually pathetic, losing 5-0. They have to rally round as a group and show some care for each other.
“I did not like what I saw from my team one bit at 2-0 down. Self-preservation, our body language and people throwing their hands up in the air.
“It surprised me actually. What can you do? I told them I didn’t like it.
“I told them Che Adams is out of contract this summer and the one person who has the excuse if he didn’t really want to be all in and not work hard for his team, but he did that more than anyone. So it was inexcusable for anyone else not to do that.
“The fans were amazing, they were still clapping at the end and deserved better than that.”
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Messi now 4 Lords vs EPL Milos Kerkez the Driller but why? LOL Debate = over Thoughts? CRAZY Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Just toon it, trollfootball, The Football Arena, AZR Organization)...
Former Chelsea star Abraham set to join BesiktasPer Fabrizio Romano, Turkish giants Besiktas have reached verbal agreement with Serie A side AS Roma to sign Tammy Abraham on a permanent deal this summer. Besiktas have submitted an offer worth €20 million and the ex-Chelsea forward has reportedly accepted the offer to join the club.Staggering salary Bayern have offered Woltemade revealedNick ...
Liverpool are reportedly ready offer young winger Ben Doak to Crystal Palace as they step up their pursuit of centre-back Marc Guehi.The Premier League champions are looking to sign a new central defender following the imminent sale of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.According to The Sun, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Doak, 19, following an impressive loan at Middlesbrough.As it happ...
Arsenal have reportedly reached a full agreement on personal terms with Valencia star Cristhian Mosquera. A new bid is said to be being prepared, with the Gunners believing they can conclude a deal with the La Liga side at just over £17million.Valencia are widely reported to have turned down a £12m offer from Arsenal earlier this month. Mikel Arteta, Andrea Berta and Co. remained undette...
Chelsea have agreed a deal worth a total of £60 million ($82m) for Brighton striker Joao Pedro, sources have told ESPN.The 23-year-old had attracted interest from Newcastle but preferred a move to Stamford Bridge and talks with Chelsea developed quickly this week.Sources have told ESPN that Pedro has agreed terms on a seven-year contract in a deal that includes a £55m initial fee with &#...
Sporting CP president Varandas: Gyokeres knows price he can leave forSporting CP president Frederico Varandas says he knows the price he wants to sell Viktor Gyokeres for. However, he insists he won't make the Swede's valuation public.Arsenal and Juventus are the latest clubs in talks with Gyokeres and his agents.Varandas said, "I'm not going to say what the price tag is, the player knows what the...
Frustrated Arsenal turn to Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ekitike Arsenal have jumped into the battle for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike.The France U21 star is wanted by Europe's biggest clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.Fussball Transfers says Arsenal have joined the race for Ekitike.The Gunners are turning to Ekitike after being frustrated in talks for Viktor Gyoke...
Tottenham prepare offer for Genoa defender De WinterTottenham are interested in Genoa defender Koni De Winter.Il Corriere dello Sport says Spurs are preparing a bid for the Holland international.De Winter could arrive as cover - or as a replacement - for senior centre-half Cristian Romero.The North London club has already reached an agreement with Kawasaki Frontal to sign defender Kota Takai. But ...
Jurgen Klopp reveals why he may never return to managementFormer Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has opened up on his future and revealed why he may never return to management.The 58-year-old ended his nine-year spell at Liverpool after the 2023-24 season, becoming Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer months later.In his recent interview with German outlet Welt, he has suggested t...
Jarell Quansah edges closer to Bayer Leverkusen after medical bookedLiverpool defender Jarell Quansah is one step closer to making the switch to German giants Bayer Leverkusen with the club booking his medical.The two clubs have agreed a fee that could rise to 335 million for the 22-year-old although Liverpool are understood to have a 360 million buy-back clause in the deal.According to Fabrizio R...
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Raphinha happy to see Barcelona miss out on FIFA Club World Cup
- 3 Club World Cup 2025: Benfica v Chelsea predictions, best bets and odds
- 4 Man Utd close in on Bryan Mbeumo! Red Devils agree £60m+ fee with Brentford as Premier League rivals iron out final transfer details
- 5 Mystery blonde who had night out with Kieran Trippier
- 6 Liverpool willing to make swap proposal to Palace for Guehi
- 7 Man United close in on Bryan Mbeumo
- 8 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 9 Arsenal interested in signing Cristhian Mosquera
- 10 Salzburg vs Real Madrid Prediction 27 June 2025