Lee Hendrie has endorsed Martí Cifuentes to steer Leicester City to promotion this season despite the looming risk of a points deduction.
The Guardian has reported that the Foxes face the possibility of a likely sanction from the Premier League, which can be imposed even though they are no longer in the top division.
An alleged violation of the league’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) has placed the club under scrutiny, all while the Spanish boss aims to secure a top-two finish in the Championship after taking charge in the summer.
Cifuentes has enjoyed an encouraging beginning at the King Power Stadium, though it remains relatively early in the campaign.
Lee Hendrie backs Leicester City promotion push:
Hendrie has applauded Cifuentes for how he has handled all the challenges at Leicester so far, saying the club should be thrilled with how the season has started.
He maintains that the side is still strong enough to have an excellent shot at promotion despite the risk of a deduction.
“There’s all sorts surrounding Leicester at the moment, with potential points deductions and all the rest that comes with these situations,” Hendrie exclusively told Football League World.
“He’s got off to a really good start there because you walk into a football club with expectation levels coming out of the Premier League, players that have gone and then really and truly he’s trying to get that balance right.
“I’ve always liked him, and there was always talk of him eventually leaving QPR, which obviously resulted in him going to Leicester.
“For promotion, yes, I think he’s got every single chance.
“Look at the league this season, you’d be over the moon with the start he’s gone and had.
“But, I do feel that there’s some situations at the football club that probably need to be sorted out sooner rather than later.
“But they’ve got a strong squad of players, they’ve got a very, very good manager that can certainly take them to that place again.
“I’d favour the odds in him getting them promotion, whether that’s play-offs or automatic.”
Leicester have triumphed in three of their first four league matches so far this term, sitting fourth ahead of the Championship’s resumption this weekend.
The Foxes did fall to Preston North End in their second fixture but have otherwise defeated Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City.
Next on the agenda for Cifuentes’ men is a trip to Oxford United on Saturday for a 12.30 pm kick-off.
Leicester City can overcome a points deduction:
The top two finished 10 points ahead of third last season, and the margin was 11 points in 2023, so there could be sufficient leeway for the Foxes if they maintain a consistent run of form through most of the campaign.
Enzo Maresa guided Leicester to a 97-point season when the team were last promoted in 2024, which may be the benchmark required to offset a points penalty if it arrives.
The sooner the club learns of their potential punishment, the better, as it will enable them to concentrate fully on the job at hand.
But Cifuentes is an accomplished coach with considerable promise, and this squad should be capable of overcoming whatever sanction they might face.