Russell Martin believes the team's preseason preparations met expectations, and the players displayed the ideal playing style.

In their final preseason match, Leicester City suffered a narrow 0-1 home defeat to Genoa. Although they failed to end their summer preparations with a victory, manager Russell Martin still praised the team's overall performance after the game, believing the entire squad is ready for the new season.  

Speaking about the match against Genoa, Russell Martin said : " I think the team played very well tonight, and I enjoyed the whole process. We controlled the tempo of the game and created a lot of scoring opportunities. Around the 70th minute, the opponent only had one shot on target, and we did a good job defensively. The only regret is conceding that goal, but it's just a preseason game, and we have a lot of positives to gain."  

"In the second half, our opponents made a large number of substitutions, bringing on 11 players at once, while we basically kept our original lineup, which changed the pace of the game. Since we also played a friendly match against Coventry that day, we could only field some of our younger players. However, their performance was still commendable, and the entire preseason preparation process was satisfactory."  

Speaking about the team's overall performance, Russell Martin expressed satisfaction, continuing , " The players showed the way we've been hoping to see. They ran actively on the pitch, dared to control the ball, and maintained a strong drive both with and without the ball. We created a lot of chances tonight and should have scored more goals, but we failed to convert our advantage into a lead, which is the only thing that makes me regretful."  

"Whether it was Genoa or the Coventry match earlier that day, we were facing strong teams. In both games, all the players who got playing time showed a positive attitude and performed well, which deserves recognition."  

"Overall, I am very satisfied with the team's current state. The players have shown a good level of competition, and I hope the fans can enjoy our performance in the game. Although it is a bit of a pity that we could not end the preseason with a victory, I believe everyone has seen the positive side of the team. I am full of confidence and expectations for the heights this team can reach in the future."  

Speaking about the integration of new signings and the players' physical condition, Russell Martin said : " Some players have only just returned to the team, so they haven't reached the point where they can play a full 90 minutes yet, such as Bobby Reed. However, he still persevered for a long time and showed a good professional attitude. Liam Cullen's performance was also impressive. He hasn't been with the team for long, but he was able to finish the whole game, which is very commendable."  

"Our goal has always been to get as many players as possible into shape through matches, preparing them for next week and the rest of the schedule. In terms of the playing time the players have received, today has undoubtedly been a very valuable day. I believe the team can start the new season in good form."  

Image source: Internet /Leicester City official website