“I thought the players had it in them to produce something”, Hull’s caretaker manager Mike Phelan told Sky Sports.
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“The first half was hard for us and we didn’t play well”, said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.
“But all credit to the football players”. They showed a lot of the determination.
“Today was a normal match, maybe a draw was normal, but we lost it”, said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, whose side lost only three times last season.
No longer a surprise package and no longer the underdog in every game they play, Phelan suggested City’s reigning champions may be affected by the spotlight that is now shining brightly on them.
“They played better, we tried to do our best”.
It took a colossal team effort for a makeshift Tigers team to overturn the Premier League champions and selecting a star man was no mean feat.
“Yes, I think so”.
Both of Hull’s goals came as a result of jittery defending from the Foxes, with a combination of Adama Diomande and Abel Hernandez, who appeared to strike the ball at the same time with mirror-image overhead kicks, leading to the Tigers’ opening goal.
Leicester equalized with a penalty converted by Riyad Mahrez nearly immediately after the re-start, but Snodgrass restored Hull’s lead for good in the 57th minute with a powerful low shot from inside the area.
The Toffees took the lead inside the first five minutes from a Ross Barkley free kick which evaded everyone and found the far corner past Hugo Lloris’ despairing dive.
Leicester were never going to repeat the exploits of last season but they have to hold it together until the transfer window closes so their biggest players such as Mahrez don’t get frustrated and seek alternative playing options.
Leicester almost made the breakthrough when Christian Fuchs worked a one-two with Musa for a close-range shot that was parried by Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic. As it stands, the Premier League already has a very busy schedule, being the only league that has games during Christmas and New Year’s, and anyone who competes in the Champions League knows how tough it is to balance the two.
Musa again was involved as he latched onto a loose ball in the final third and again played the ball into Vardy’s part but the England forward blazed the ball over the bar.
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Expectations on Pep’s side could not be higher and City got off to the quickest start possible when Sergio Aguero converted a penalty won by the very impressive Raheem Sterling after just three minutes of action.
