Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes has stunned the Foxes fanbase after delivering a surprisingly bold assessment of Luke Thomas in the aftermath of last weekend’s damaging 1-0 loss to Millwall.
Thomas, who has started every single game so far this season, endured a torrid afternoon in South London—allowing Femi Azeez in behind for the decisive goal and losing the ball in the build-up to Millwall’s missed penalty. He was eventually hauled off just after the hour mark, replaced by Wout Faes.
But despite what appeared to be a clear dip in form, Cifuentes delivered a shockingly defiant defence of the young left-back, insisting his trust in Thomas remains unchanged, even in light of what many saw as a match-costing display.
“It’s true, and he’s aware, that it was not his best game against Millwall. That doesn’t change the trust I have in him. He’s a player who loves the club and has done good things for us.”
Cifuentes added that Thomas’ consistent presence in the team stemmed from a lack of alternatives, largely due to Victor Kristiansen’s injury setbacks earlier in the season. But now that the Danish full-back is back in training, fans expected Thomas’ place to come under more serious threat.
Yet Cifuentes continued to back Thomas:
“That gave us Luke as the only clear natural option as a left full-back. We could have used other players in that position, but we thought Luke started the season really well.”
The comments have not gone down well with large sections of the Foxes faithful, who took to social media in frustration following the manager’s remarks. Many believe Thomas should be benched after repeated lapses, and are shocked Cifuentes is standing so firmly behind him.
One fan summed up the mood: “He’s clearly costing us games and there’s no accountability. Absolutely baffling from Marti.”
Another furious supporter added: “How bad does someone have to play before Cifuentes stops making excuses?”
Meanwhile, Victor Kristiansen – who hasn’t featured in the matchday squad recently – is now fully fit and awaiting his opportunity, though it remains unclear whether Cifuentes will hand him a long-awaited start.
The spotlight is now turning toward Saturday’s clash against Blackburn. Will the manager stick with the under-fire Thomas, or will fan pressure force his hand?
One thing is certain: if Cifuentes is wrong about backing Thomas, the backlash will only intensify.