Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi believes the team has reached a pivotal stage in the season ahead of their weekend clash with Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
With Leicester currently in 15th place, Saturday’s match against another recently promoted side holds added significance as both teams seek to recover from recent losses.
“They are a very good team, a very attacking team,” Ndidi said via the club’s website. “We’ve seen a few of their games, and we also know them from the Championship when we played them last season. But new players have come in, and their attacking threats are right up there.”
As the Foxes prepare for the encounter, Ndidi emphasised the importance of securing points before December’s demanding schedule.
“We’re planning a way to try and get around it because we know the style of play,” he added. “We’ll just play our game, it’s just about that. It’s very important because we are in this period of the season where we need to get as many points as we can before going into December because of all the games in December.”
For Ndidi, Leicester must capitalize on games like these to build confidence and momentum.
“These games are the ones we need to get something out of,” he said. “They are also under pressure because they need to win, so it makes the game very open. We have to create chances and get goals.”
Reflecting on Leicester’s recent trend of conceding early, Ndidi stressed the need to start strong.
“It’s something that needs to stop,” he admitted. “We want to be in the lead, get the goal and get the momentum going. But when you go a goal down, you have to give everything to get back into the game. When we concede first, it becomes a shock and an eye opener because we know we are a good team and we can actually win these games.”
He added, “Now we’re trying as much as possible to find a way not to concede, get into the game and then keep it going. We want to try and give everything at the beginning of the game, where we don’t concede but we try to get a goal. That’s what we have to do going forward.”
Having been ever-present this season with four assists in nine matches, Ndidi believes Leicester’s current position does not reflect the squad’s quality.
“We are a team who can actually get something in every game,” he remarked. “Because of the quality of players we have, we haven’t really reached where we wanted to in games. You have only seen glimpses of it, but I think with this team, you see the quality. It’s about not being scared of making mistakes, because they are part of the game.”
With his commitment clear, Ndidi added that his focus remains on supporting the team wherever he plays.
“I try to help the team and do my job. We have a common goal. For me as a player, I don’t really mind where I play on the pitch, I just try and give my best for the team, which is what the players and the Manager know. It’s not just about me, it’s about the team and individual quality within the team, so that is part of my contribution, saying what we have to do.”
