Leicester City beat Championship Birmingham 1-0 in the FA Cup on Wednesday evening to progress to the quarter-final, where they will face Chelsea.
The Foxes’ right-back Ricardo Pereira provided the winning goal, rising above his marker to nod in a header and send Brendan Rodgers’ side through. After the match, his manager lauded the defender for his display and praised his attitude which has seen him develop into one of the best right-backs in not only the Premier League but the world.
What did he say?
Speaking to the media after the game, Rodgers said: “I’ve got a brilliant player. He’s so low maintenance. The intensity he plays the game, that’s how he trains.”
The Leicester City manager added: “He always wants to get better, he wants to learn, his defending has got better, and then going forward he’s such a threat, whether that’s his crossing or looking to come in behind. He’s up there with the really top right-backs at this level, and he’s consistently been first class.”
Pereira continues to progress
This season has seen the Foxes right back reach new heights, in the top five leagues in Europe, only French teen sensation Eduardo Camavinga has completed more tackles per match, 4.4, than Pereira’s 4.3, as per WhoScored. Furthermore, only Wilfred Ndidi has made more interceptions, 2.6, than the Portuguese right back’s 1.8 per match for Leicester City in the Premier League this term, as per WhoScored. Pereira has made himself an indispensable asset for the Foxes since arriving from FC Porto in 2018.
The 26-year-old has continually improved since arriving in England. He has found the back of the net once more than last season already, having provided three goals, while also improving the number of dribbles he has recorded per match from 1.9 to 2.2, as per WhoScored. Incredibly, Pereira’s goalscoring exploits have not suffered, along with providing more dribbles around opponents, even though he has also sharpened up the defensive side of his game.
As the Foxes prepare for a potential European return next season, they may look to boost their squad in the market over the summer, though one area they will not require improvement is the right side of their defence.
