The former Leicester City striker believes Cifuentes does not have the squad to get the club back to the Premier League and this season should be one of consolidation
Jordan Blackwell
10:38, 30 Oct 2025
Marti Cifuentes during Leicester City's 1-0 defeat to Hull
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Marti Cifuentes during Leicester City's 1-0 defeat to Hull(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Marti Cifuentes has not been handed the tools to get Leicester City back to the Premier League this season, former favourite Emile Heskey believes.
While they’ve sat in the play-off spots for most of the season so far, back-to-back defeats has seen City slip to 10th ahead of Saturday’s clash with Blackburn at the King Power Stadium.
A troubling summer saw Cifuentes arrive a few weeks into pre-season and then only able to bring in three outfield signings, with Aaron Ramsey, Jordan James and Julian Carranza arriving on loan on deadline day.
Because of that limited business, Heskey does not believe Cifuentes has the squad he wants, and so, in the former striker’s eyes, promotion isn’t likely.
“When Leicester appointed Cifuentes, and with any successful managerial appointment, you have to build a side that he wants and give him the tools to do his job,” Heskey told 10bet Casino. “He’s got a young squad, despite bringing back players like Harry Winks.
“He has a specific way he likes to play, and I’m not sure he’s got the squad to do that as he wants. I don’t think it’s a platform from which they can get promoted.
“I think they need to consolidate for now and see where they can build from after that. Sadly, I don’t think that this is the season Leicester will get promoted.”
With City consolidating this season, Heskey would like to see more players follow the path he did 30 years ago and step up from the club’s academy into the first team.
Cifuentes has been using Jeremy Monga regularly, but Ben Nelson is yet to feature this season, while Jake Evans and Bade Aluko are having to be patient for their opportunity.
“I think he (Cifuentes) is doing okay so far, but I’d like to see more young players brought through,” Heskey added.
“It worked for me, Julian Joachim before that, Richard Smith too. That’s what Leicester should still be doing, but with Cifuentes he is finding himself constantly fire-fighting.”
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