Leicester boss hails 'fantastic moment' after Premier League return

Leicester manager Enzo Maresca (44) expressed his delight at the club's immediate return to the Premier League, describing it as a "remarkable moment."

Despite their promotion, Maresca emphasized his team's determination to secure the Championship title. The Foxes secured their promotion after Leeds, who were in second place, suffered a 4-0 defeat against QPR on Friday.

Leicester currently sits at the top of the table with 94 points and two games remaining, while Leeds remains in second place with 90 points and only one match left.

However, Ipswich, in third place with 89 points and three matches remaining, still has a chance to overtake Leeds for the second automatic promotion spot and potentially win the title. Teams finishing from third to sixth in the second tier will enter the play-offs to compete for the third promotion spot.

Maresca expressed his pride in witnessing the hard work of everyone associated with Leicester City throughout the season being rewarded with their promotion to the Premier League.

He acknowledged that this achievement is a collective effort and holds great significance for the owners, players, and supporters.

Maresca acknowledged the challenges faced by the team in a highly competitive league but credited their collaborative efforts with the players in turning their playing style into a reality, enabling them to overcome these obstacles.

Despite the celebration, Maresca emphasized that their work is not yet complete. He described this moment as fantastic for the football club but stressed their determination to finish the season in first place and lift the trophy in front of their supporters at the King Power Stadium on the final day. Leicester will face Preston on Monday before hosting Blackburn next week.

Leicester's previous Premier League triumph in 2016 under former manager Claudio Ranieri was followed by relegation last season alongside Leeds and Southampton.

Although they faced some setbacks during their promotion bid, a resounding 5-0 victory against Southampton on Tuesday brought them closer to their goal of returning to the Premier League.