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French seduction

Claude Puel believes he can ‘seduce’ Riyad Mahrez to stay at Leicester with attractive style of play

The French manager was criticised at his last job for his tactical defensive play but says he will win over his new squad with attractive style

LEICESTER'S new boss Claude Puel has a big task ahead of him to keep his high-profile players from leaving the King Power Stadium in January.

Puel believes he has to "seduce" the likes of Riyad Mahrez by implementing an attractive style of play.

 Claude Puel believes he need to "seduce" his new players with attractive football
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Claude Puel believes he need to "seduce" his new players with attractive footballCredit: Getty Images - Getty

The Daily Mail reports the French manager knows he will have to convince his squad to buy into his methods.

Wantaway Mahrez put in his transfer request before the pre-season and tried to force a deadline day move but Puel is ready to turn on the charm offensive to change his mind.

But after a disappointing start to the season that sees the Foxes sitting 15th in the Premier League, Puel understands his new players are frustrated and it won't just be the Algerian international wanting a move if their fortunes don't change before the new year.

Puel said "It is down to me to make these players want to stay by the fact we are playing good football, I want them to be happy here, with the type of football that we play.

 Riyad Mahrez handed in his transfer request before the pre-season
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Riyad Mahrez handed in his transfer request before the pre-seasonCredit: Rex Features
 Puel is Leicester's third boss in eight months
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Puel is Leicester's third boss in eight monthsCredit: Getty - Contributor

"I have always got to attract them, to seduce them. It is down to me to create that ambience and that environment where these players want to thrive and stay and be happy.

"It is normal for a player who has won the title and played in he Champions League, to maybe have disappointment or frustration because now they know the high level.

"We will work together and step by step try to improve to find again this level, this possibility, this ambition, to find these good results."

Puel will begin his new venture on Sunday when Leicester face managerless Everton who have had an equally tumultuous start.

It will be his first time in charge in the Premier League in four months following his dismissal from Southampton.

The 56-year-old guided the Saints to the League Cup final and eighth-place in the league but his pragmatic style of play was criticised.

Puel was seen as being too reserved which caused friction with the senior players and frustrated fans, something he will need to avoid if he wants his new team to buy into his system.

Despite enduring just one season at St. Mary's and becoming the Foxes third boss in eight months, Puel insists his thoughts are on a long-term stay in Leicester.

Claude 'Ponderous' Puel rejoins the Premier League with Leicester City announcing him as their new manager

He added: "When you work at high level in professional football at a top club you have to accept that things can happen. Sometimes decisions can be taken, that you might consider personally to be arbitrary, but it doesn’t make you change the way you approach your job.

"I will approach the job in the long term, I will look to develop the club not in the short term. But obviously you still respect the owners and people within the club.

"When I come to a job I always try to bring something, not just on the playing side, on the technical football side, but to develop the club as a whole."

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