Nigeria and Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi admits it has been difficult for him to transition into a more attacking midfield role.
The 26-year-old set up Jamie Vardy for the second goal of the game as Leicester picked up a 4-1 win at Blackburn to extend their lead at the top of the Championship.
“It was firstly a difficult game,” Ndidi told Sky Sports. “We kept our patience and we won the game, coming here it’s difficult to get a win but we actually did.”
Ndidi has shone in his new number eight role so far this season, but the midfielder admits it isn’t something that has come easy to him. “Of course, it’s just a process I’m still getting used to the role, but I’ll just keep playing and going,” he said.
Wilfred Ndidi set up goal for the third game running against Stoke as his renaissance continued as an attacking threat following two years of plummeting form in defensive midfield
Ndidi was on the pitch for 13 minutes plus injury time during Leicester City’s 2-0 win over Stoke, and yet no player had more shots. All three of his efforts were inches away from going in, with one blocked near the line, another deflected over, and one headed just wide.
He then set up Jamie Vardy – maybe with an excellent pass, maybe with a wild fourth attempt at goal – for his third assist in three Championship games. The outing before that he won the penalty that earned City victory. In any other season, this would be unusual for a player who has made his name at the other end of the pitch last season.
Now, after 14 games in all competitions, Ndidi has contributed to seven goals for City. Only Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (eight) has had a hand in more. Nobody would have thought that could be true a few months ago. In fact, very few thought there would be a role for Ndidi at City at all.
“It was a good one and important that we got the win,” Ndidi said at full-time. “Very, very important. It’s a good weekend for us. It’s been a brilliant start. There’s more games to go so we’ll look to the next one.
“It’s a long season so we need everybody in the team. The Manager wants everyone to be ready. Anyone who goes on the pitch has to give 100 per cent, so as a team, we understand the philosophy. We understand it’s a long season and we’re all ready for it.”
KUDOS TO ENZO
Ndidi reserves praise for Manager EnzoMaresca, whose spell in charge has included a record-breaking start and a new playing style.
“He’s been amazing,” Leicester’s midfielder said. “He’s helping the team to be more together. If you have a look at the team, the way we play, and also the guys on the bench, we’re all together. He tries to make everything simple with the philosophy.
“It’s going well, and we’ll see where it takes us. Everyone is gelling so quick. We all know what we want to do. We know what we have to do. Kudos to the Manager because he’s been brilliant since he arrived here.”
Kudos to the Manager because he’s trying to help me understand the role. He’s trying to help me.
“The guys who naturally play in that role are helping me too. It’s a process. It’s going well, but I’ll keep going. It’s very interesting because I try to get in the box more often. I’ve always had it but it’s taken Enzo to make me know I’ve actually got it. He’s trying to push me.”
Ndidi has spoken with pride about Leicester City’s excellent early-season form, but also stressed the importance of remaining level-headed for the tests to come.
“It was really amazing,” City’s No.25 said, discussing the win at Norwich. “It was a brilliant win which we fought for against a brilliant side. You could see the fight on the pitch. You could see the togetherness on the pitch as we tried to defend the win and try to get the cleansheet. You could see everyone, even those on the bench, they were all so happy.”
“The fans are amazing,” the 26-year-old explained. “Last season was horrible so it’s nice to see them smiling again. There’s still lots of games to come, so we need to keep going.
“Everyone’s smiling and it’s been a fantastic start to the season, but we need to be ready for the challenges which will come. Every game has been a challenge. Playing every three or four days, it’s a different challenge.
“In the home games and the away games, the fans have been brilliant. They now also understand our patience in the game. Before, we were always in a hurry to get goals, but now they’re always behind us because they understand the philosophy. They’ve seen it work, so it’s really, really good to hear them cheering us on.”
Get Maresca to explain exactly what he wants from each position in his City set-up and Ndidi of the previous six-and-a-half seasons does not fit into any of them. There is no role in Maresca’s team that asks for a bustling, long-legged destroyer to win tackles and interceptions. Now, the player at the base of the midfield is there to build the game. Harry Winks is the opposite of Ndidi.
But just when Ndidi’s career at the King Power Stadium looked to be over, Maresca got pragmatic. He was short on players to operate in the two number eight roles and saw attributes in Ndidi that he felt could work.
Now, 14 games in, Ndidi is one of only two players, along with Dewsbury-Hall, to have featured in every match. His tally of three goals – two in the Carabao Cup and one in the Championship – matches his best scoring season for the club.
Speaking to the club after he waltzed around Southampton defenders to score at St Mary’s, Ndidi joked that he’d shown his “striker’s instinct”, sarcastically acting as if it’s the type of goal he scores every week. His reaction to scoring may be as pleasing as the goal itself. Watching Ndidi now, it feels like a weight has been lifted.
In the two years leading up to City’s relegation, most players suffered a drop in form, but perhaps none as starkly as Ndidi. City’s defence looked so vulnerable in part because Ndidi was no longer protecting them well. The number of tackles and interceptions he was making fell through the floor.
For so long, City had relied on Ndidi. The attacking players were granted the freedom to venture forward and take risks because they had the Nigerian behind them to bail them out. When he stopped providing security, not only did City’s defence look more vulnerable, but their attackers became scared to be inventive in case they set up counters for the opposition. That’s a lot of pressure on Ndidi’s shoulders.
Moving him into a forward area relieves that pressure. There is a freedom that comes with being a more attacking player, and one that perhaps the world isn’t expected of. The big, beaming smile is back. At the mention of Ndidi’s name, Maresca starts smiling too.
“It’s not easy coming from a different role, it’s just for me to be with my team. With the help of my teammates, also the gaffer, it’s been brilliant.”
