Cifuentes left QPR to take over at the Foxes and the demands and expectation on him were high from the outset, with this season marking the 10-year anniversary of their stunning Premier League title win of 2016.
When Cifuentes was named as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s replacement in July, he spoke of wanting to bring a brand of “fearless” football back to the King Power.
There was a sense of that in December’s wins against Derby and Ipswich – the latter game including Abdul Fatawu’s sensational strike from well inside his own half – but it has been combined with a complete inability to keep clean sheets.
The 43 goals they have conceded in 29 league games is the third-worst defensive record in the division.
When Cifuentes came in, he was given less than a month to prepare for the season after Van Nistelrooy’s protracted exit.
At the time he was lauded as a manager that fit the mould of Maresca – the Italian boss who guided the club to promotion in 2024 before leaving for the Chelsea job.
It was to be a return to a possession heavy, high-pressing style, but, whatever the aim, the results have been nothing alike.
Like Maresca before him, Cifuentes had a side stacked with Premier League experience to call on.
But with talismanic striker Jamie Vardy among those that did leave after the club’s latest relegation, Cifuentes has not had the same quality to rely on.
No money was made available to buy a forward to replace Vardy, with funds raised from the sale of Mads Hermansen, Kasey McAteer, James Justin, Wilfred Ndidi and Conor Coady going towards efforts to balance the books at a time that the club’s finances have been heavily scrutinised.
Leicester were one of only three clubs in the division – alongside Oxford and the now administration-hit Sheffield Wednesday – not to pay for a permanent summer transfer.
Instead Cifuentes could only bring in midfielders Jordan James, Aaron Ramsey and forward Julian Carranza on loan, the latter of whom rarely featured and has left, and pick up veteran goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as a free agent.
