Leicester City’s frustrating 1-1 draw against Portsmouth has taken a new twist after manager Marti Cifuentes admitted that the Foxes were effectively playing with 10 men for much of the second half.
Cifuentes revealed that substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid suffered a hamstring injury shortly after coming onto the pitch, leaving him unable to sprint or contribute fully as Leicester searched for a winner.
With all substitutions already used, the Jamaican international had no choice but to stay on the field, effectively reducing City’s attacking threat at a crucial stage of the game.
“The last 15 minutes, Bobby felt something in his hamstring, so we were playing with 10 men,” Cifuentes said. “He couldn’t sprint.”
De Cordova-Reid’s condition came as a blow, especially considering he was among the last players to return from international duty and had only limited time to train before the match. His reduced mobility meant Leicester struggled to maintain their shape and press effectively in the closing stages, allowing Portsmouth to push higher up the pitch.
Cifuentes also admitted that fatigue played a major role in his side’s drop in performance levels. Both Jordan James and Aaron Ramsey were forced off due to tiredness, having only recently returned from international duty, while several others looked leggy as the game wore on.
“We had to take out JJ because he was feeling tired because of the game with Wales. The same with Aaron, it was his first start in a while,” the manager explained. “So it was a little combination of things, but I’m very critical and the second half should have been much better.”
The Foxes had started brightly, producing one of their best first-half displays of the season. Aaron Ramsey’s stunning acrobatic strike gave them a deserved lead, and it looked like they would finally secure a convincing home victory. However, their intensity dropped after the break, and Portsmouth capitalised through John Swift’s equaliser before almost snatching a late winner.
Despite Cifuentes’ tactical adjustments, none of the substitutions managed to reignite Leicester’s control. With De Cordova-Reid struggling and the midfield tiring, City appeared flat and short of ideas going forward.
The result extends Leicester’s unbeaten run to eight games but also marks a third consecutive home draw — a pattern Cifuentes is desperate to end.
The Spaniard’s admission that one of his players was essentially a passenger for part of the game will sting supporters, especially as Leicester’s inability to turn dominance into victories has become a growing concern.
De Cordova-Reid is now a major doubt for Tuesday’s clash with Hull, while winger Stephy Mavididi, still recovering from a hamstring problem, remains unlikely to feature from the start.
Cifuentes will be hoping his squad can regroup quickly, but his latest revelation makes one thing clear — Leicester’s depth and fitness levels could determine whether their promotion push stays on track or slips further away.