Claude Puel hails Leicester's 'fantastic positive attitude' after victory at Newcastle
Saturday 9 December 2017 21:22, UK
Claude Puel was delighted with Leicester's response after they recovered from a goal down to beat Newcastle 3-2 courtesy of an Ayoze Perez own goal.
The Foxes secured their third successive league win after Perez turned the ball into his own net in the 86th minute.
Joselu had fired Newcastle ahead after four minutes before Riyad Mahrez and Demarai Gray turned the game on its head, and though Dwight Gayle levelled for Newcastle, Leicester took all three points in fortuitous circumstances.
Puel praised his Leicester players for handling the atmosphere under the lights at St James' Park.
He said: "I think we deserved this win with a fantastic positive attitude. It was a difficult game - we had to play against Newcastle and against this atmosphere, and it's always difficult to play, to resist sometimes under pressure.
"The second goal gave us the lead, but it was difficult, but a draw would have been difficult to accept, so my team deserved the third goal with a fantastic and positive attitude."
Puel reserved particular praise for Japan international Shinji Okazaki, who forced the winner after playing on following a head wound which left him swathed in bandages.
He said: "The first example is Shinji - he is a kamikaze and it's a good thing for the team. He's a fantastic player with fantastic spirit and all the squad like him because he gives everything and he also gives his body for the team."
