Pre-match expectations
Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil said the Carabao Cup second-round tie at Portman Road on Tuesday 19:45 BST will be a “really tough game” against Leicester City. He warned that the Foxes will be “coming here to leave some marks on us” and that the gap between the two sides is “a lot closer than it looks.”
Familiarity and style
O'Neil reminded that both clubs were in the Championship last season, playing each other twice, and that Leicester’s new Premier League coach Russell Martin has “been in the top flight with Southampton and plays a good style of football.” He added that Leicester will not care about Ipswich’s recent 3-0 win over Sunderland, and that the Foxes will be focused on their own objectives.
Squad strategy
The manager said he has added to the squad a lot and will be able to rotate. “We will pick a team we think can win. We will try to freshen things up a bit, though, because we have a big week ahead and some of the lads weren’t 100 % already,” O'Neil said.
Returning players
O'Neil highlighted the return of long-serving duo Wes Burns and Conor Chaplin, who made permanent moves to the King Power Stadium this summer. He said it would be a “great draw for them and the guys that know them” and that fans would welcome the familiar faces back at Portman Road.
The match ahead
The manager concluded that the game is important for Ipswich, adding that “I just want to keep winning. This is a strong group and I feel we are in a good place.” He urged the squad to reset after the Sunderland victory and to be ready for Leicester’s challenge.
