The Leicester City squad’s joy for Patson Daka could be sensed inside the dressing room after the “relentless” striker finally got on the scoresheet again.
Daka netted for the first time in 354 days by neatly finishing City’s second in their 2-1 win over Stoke on Saturday. Manager Marti Cifuentes said the elation was palpable inside the City dressing room post-match, with players thrilled for a team-mate who plays his part in the group effort, but who has battled through a difficult spell.
“It was a very good finish,” Cifuentes said. “I’m happy for him because I can imagine during this period it has not been easy for him.
“When I arrived it was the middle of pre-season and he produced some goals and good performances, but the last few months have not been easy for him.
“But he has always conducted himself in a very professional way. He works really hard for the team, he is relentless in the press, he is relentless in the movement and he helps the team.
“He’s a good guy who is always in a good mood. It was an important goal for him and hopefully the confidence can build for him.
“You could feel it when I went in. These are the small wins that happen inside a dressing room. They care for each other.
“When they know there is a team-mate who is struggling, because things didn’t work his way, which is the nature of football and of life, then I think the players were pleased for Pato and for Stephy (Mavididi).”
Daka had doubled City’s lead after Mavididi rasped in his first of the season, setting them up for what looked like a comfortable victory.
It turned out to be anything but. City conceded shortly after half-time and had to scrap their way through to a first home win since August.
“I’m pleased with the win because it’s important to get back-to-back wins, it’s important to win at home again,” Cifuentes said. “We played against a very good team that is doing really well, has good players and a good manager.
“We got two goals from two players that mentally in terms of the mood of the whole squad will help them a lot. I’m pleased for the fans.
“There are things to improve, always. The nature of the Championship is that sometimes you need to grind it out, especially with the way the game developed.
“We scored an important goal before half-time and we spoke about, in the break, about the need to chase the third goal, but then we conceded a goal that changed the development of everything.
“I spoke about the cultural changes, the mentality, and I was pleased to see the players working for each other. Even though there are moments where things are not working our way, everybody worked hard for each other. That’s the foundation of a competitive team.”