Leicester’s Vardy vows to work hard to fit Puel’s style
Vardy has scored five goals this season having struggled to adapt to Puel’s tactics.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has promised to adapt to Claude Puel’s style after admitting the Frenchman’s tactics do not suit him.
The former England international is ready to return for the Foxes in Saturday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea.
Vardy flourished under Claudio Ranieri’s counter-attacking style, scoring 24 goals when the Foxes claimed a shock title in 2016.
He has scored 20 goals in 14 months – five this season – under Puel but has struggled to fit in to a more patient build-up.
“Does it (suit me)? No, but is that down to me to adapt to it? Yes,” he said.
“And obviously the only way I’m going to do that and keep progressing is working hard on the training field.
“It does get a bit frustrating but we are transitioning into a different style of play.
“I think we’ve just got to keep working hard on it and eventually it will get us going forward that bit quicker because when we get into attacking positions eventually the ball will get picked out for some of my runs.”
Vardy is expected to return at Stamford Bridge after being rested for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City following his comeback from a groin injury at Crystal Palace last weekend.
The Foxes lost 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw against City but Vardy insisted there was little chance of him facing the holders after his omission was questioned.
“It’s just about managing it (the groin problem),” he told Sky Sports News.
“Obviously I want to play as many games as possible, but playing the 90 minutes on Saturday, there was no way it was going to get risked again on Tuesday with the chance of it putting me out long-term.
“I won’t need an operation but it is just about managing it, which is what we’ve done after playing last Saturday with a full week until my next game.
“It’s been managed in the right way and we’ve got a great physio department and support staff in the background.
“It is frustrating but we pick up niggles all the time and if it’s best for me to miss a game to make sure I am not out long-term, then that is what we have to do.”
