Victor Kristiansen has taken on a role he was reluctant to perform last season in order to help Stephy Mavididi thrive.
The Leicester City left-back has seen his position altered over the past two outings against Crystal Palace and Everton. While operating as the advanced full-back in the first three matches, rushing down the left flank to play as a winger when City were in possession, a change in attack means he now has to hang back.
Manager Steve Cooper likes one of his wingers to stay wide and the other to come infield and play as a second number 10. The full-back tasked with attacking will be on the same side as the inverted winger.
With Mavididi starting the last two matches and Abdul Fatawu dropping out, there’s been a switch. Jordan Ayew, from the right, is coming inside, with James Justin now pushing on. Kristiansen, instead, has to form a back three with Caleb Okoli and Wout Faes when City are in possession.
That was the role Enzo Maresca had planned for Kristiansen last season. But the young Dane saw himself as an up-and-down full-back and did not want to be constricted by the Italian’s tactics, and so went on loan to Bologna, who he helped qualify for the Champions League. Now back at City, he has had to take on the job he once avoided. But it has helped Mavididi produce influential displays.
“It’s been good to play with Stephy,” Kristiansen told the club. “It’s a different role for me in the last two games.
“I think I can come a bit more with my strength arriving in the second and third phase of the game, but it’s about giving Stephy the space he needs for his one-v-ones, and sometimes supporting him with overlaps. It’s been good.”
Kristiansen has started each of City’s Premier League games so far, with the club still seeking their first victory in the top flight. At home, City’s matches have followed a similar pattern, with a poor first half following by a strong response in the second period. That was true on Saturday against Everton, Mavididi netting the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
“It was frustrating in the first half,” Kristiansen said. “We got after it in the second half and should have had a goal more. It was a hard-fought point and it could be worse.
“(At half-time) it was a reminder of getting the quality up and having a bit more focus in the duels. It was a bit stressful in the first half. So many of the positions we want to have the ball, we didn’t quite get there, but it changed in the second half.
“It’s always frustrating to go behind, especially at home, and especially when we want to control the game and play our way. That changes after the goal. But it’s great character from the guys out there to come back again.”
Leave a Reply