Leicester City’s Development Squad drew 2-2 with Manchester United Under-21s
– Wanya Marcal-Madivadua scored City’s equalizer at Carrington Training Centre
– He gave his verdict on Friday’s Premier League 2 Division 1 fixture to LCFC TV
– Lewis Brunt also netted for the young Foxes but missed a second-half penalty
City took a point from their trip to face Manchester United Under-21s on Friday, drawing 2-2 with the Red Devils at Carrington Training Centre. Behind a Noam Emeran strike, Marcal-Madivadua equalized early in the second half, following Willy Kambwala’s red card.
Lewis Brunt’s free-kick edged Leicester ahead for the first time shortly after, but the Foxes skipper then missed a penalty, allowing Emeran to score a late second which grabbed a share of the spoils for the hosts.
Speaking to LCFC TV in the aftermath of the contest, the Portugal youth international felt it was an enjoyable game, with both sides eager to play attacking, free-flowing football.
“It was very good,” the 20-year-old commented. “I think we played well in the first 20 minutes and then let them get into the game in the first half.
“[Ben Petty] just told us that we were doing well [at half-time]. I think we dominated the most part of the first half, so it was just about carrying on.
“In the second half, we came out really strong. We made a few changes because it was too easy to play out from the back, so they came on and pressed the ball out and came out with a fiery start.
“Obviously, we got the early goal after they got the man sent off, and when we went 2-1 up, it was just about relaxing and managing the game. It was unlucky from the penalty, on another day they go in, but then we conceded. It’s just that end factor in the game.”
The youngster’s goal, a left-footed strike inside the penalty area, was his second across the PL2 campaign and first since scoring in a narrow defeat to Arsenal at the start of the calendar year.
Marcal-Madivadua explained: “It was good, it’s been a long time coming to get on the scoresheet, to be honest with you. I just kept trying to help the team be as direct as possible. That’s my job as a winger with shots and crosses, so to get the goal I was delighted.”
The young Foxes are already confirmed to be playing in Division 2 next season, finishing 14th in the Division 1 standings this term, but the winger is confident that gaining another positive result at Everton on Monday will stand the team in good stead for 2023/24.
“I think we’ve learned that we need a lot of togetherness,” he added. “The season didn’t go as we planned it to. We lost a lot of games and finished bottom of the league. But the past couple of weeks have been good performances.
“I think we can finish the season strong and then we can take it into pre-season and start the next season strong. It’s just about taking the end of the season into the next so that we can do well.”
