Steve Cooper Faces Challenge of Overcoming Enzo Maresca’s Legacy as Marc Albrighton Raises Concerns Over Burnley Repeat

Leicester City legend Marc Albrighton believes the squad will need time to adjust to Steve Cooper’s approach, given the stark contrast with life under former manager Enzo Maresca.

Albrighton, who retired last month after leaving the club in the summer, expressed doubts about whether Maresca’s possession-based style would have been effective in the Premier League.

While he trusts that Cooper can keep Leicester up, he stresses that patience will be essential after a season of Maresca’s rigorous drills.

Cooper isn’t completely abandoning Maresca’s strategy and will retain elements that helped Leicester secure the Championship title.

However, he plans to incorporate more direct play and counter-attacking football, along with adjustments to the system and squad personnel.

Albrighton pointed out that last season, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley tried to replicate their Championship style in the Premier League but struggled, finishing with just 24 points and relegation.

Some Leicester fans had similar concerns about Maresca’s tactics, and it appears these worries extended beyond just the fanbase.

Speaking on Sam Allardyce’s “No Tippy Tappy Football” podcast, Albrighton said: “If you look at Vincent Kompany at Burnley, they dominated the Championship.

We got promoted, so you can’t question Maresca’s tactics.

But if he had taken us into the Premier League, would it have worked?

“I look at Leicester now, and it will take some time to adjust to Steve Cooper’s way.

Players like goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and Harry Winks were brought in to play under Maresca. Now, suddenly, they have to adapt.”

Albrighton added that most Leicester fans would gladly accept a 17th-place finish to avoid relegation. “I think they can survive.

Cooper’s appointment was smart—he knows how to get a team out of trouble, as he showed with Forest. I hope they stay up.”

Leicester currently sit 15th with one point from three matches, but they have faced tough opponents in Tottenham and Aston Villa.

After the international break, they face Crystal Palace and Everton, two teams currently below them.