Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has stunned pundits and fans alike by heavily backing Russell Martin’s newly inherited Leicester City squad to dominate their upcoming campaign.
Following Martin’s official appointment at the King Power Stadium, Scholes voiced major praise for the team’s potential despite the club’s recent relegation and financial hardships.
The Shock Praise
Speaking on recent football punditry panels ahead of the 2026/27 pre-season, Scholes openly challenged the narrative that the Foxes are in a state of terminal decline.
While many expected a grueling transition period under Martin, Scholes claimed that the squad possesses an abundance of technical quality that completely contradicts their league status.

People are looking at Leicester like they are completely broken because of the relegation, but they aren’t,” Scholes remarked.
“Look at the technical profile of the players Russell Martin has in that pre-season squad. It’s actually tailor-made for his style of total football.
If they buy into his philosophy early in pre-season, they won’t just compete—they could absolutely blow the league apart.”
Scholes’ comments raised eyebrows across the footballing world, given his reputation as a notoriously tough critic who rarely dishes out such glowing praise—especially to teams undergoing massive structural rebuilds.
A New Era at the King Power
The praise comes at a pivotal moment for Leicester City. The club recently confirmed **Russell Martin as their new First Team Manager on a three-year contract.
Martin, 40, arrives at the club with a reputation for unwavering commitment to possession-based, progressive football, having previously implemented his distinct style at MK Dons, Swansea City, and Southampton.
He takes over a Leicester side looking to stabilize and rebuild following a turbulent period, starting with an immediate pre-season focus on setting standards before their opening fixtures.
Can Martin Meet the High Expectations?
With over 23,500 season tickets already sold out, the pressure is firmly on Martin to deliver. Scholes believes the squad’s adaptation to Martin’s complex tactical demands during pre-season friendlies will be the ultimate deciding factor.
If Scholes’ unbelievable prediction holds true, the foundational work being laid down in pre-season training will soon give the Blue Army exactly what they are craving: a dominant, identity-driven side ready to fight their way back up the English football pyramid.