Alex McCarthy lifts lid on Leicester City move after ‘big pulling point’
· Josh Holland · 2026-08-15T05:10:55+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Alex McCarthy believes it's vital that Leicester City's goalkeepers must have a strong relationship to get the best out of each other this season. The 36-year-old is one of two goalkeepers to join the club this summer, alongside Franco Ravizzoli.
McCarthy reunited with Russell Martin in July after previously working together at Southampton. The goalkeeper left Southampton following 10 years and signed a two-year contract at the King Power Stadium.
Jakub Stolarczyk was City's number one last season, with Asmir Begovic, who has now left the club, coming into the team for 12 games. Fran Vieites mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Leicester last week, with Ravizzoli joining on a free transfer from Blackpool.
It's currently unclear who will be Martin's number one in League One this season, although Stolarczyk started the Carabao Cup first round win over Northampton. McCarthy missed the game due to a knock and could make his debut for Leicester at Notts County this weekend.
However, the former Reading and Crystal Palace shot-stopper has insisted the goalkeepers must push each other in training to maintain high standards throughout the season.
Speaking to LeicestershireLive during the club's warm-weather training camp in Spain, McCarthy said when asked about embracing the competition for the No.1 shirt: “The goalkeeping area is so different to the outfield.
"Coming here and meeting Jakub and the other lads has been great, they’ve been great with me. Obviously it’s a little bit different as opposed to the outfield boys, but it’s important, every day, that we push each other, whoever’s playing, supporting and doing what you can do.
"It’s important to have a relationship in the group in order to push each other and keep raising each other’s standards. That’s important. I’ve been in groups before where the dynamic has been trickier and it's made sessions harder. But coming here, the lads have been great, everyone wants the same thing."
Leicester are expected to dominate possession in League One this season, with Stolarczyk completing 43 of his 46 passes in City's win over Northampton. It's something McCarthy is already familiar with, having worked with Martin before.
“It’s a lot different, you’re not just there to make saves, you’re building up play, a lot comes through you, so it’s a very important part of the game for his style of play," he explained.
"Training-wise we do a lot more with the ball at our feet. It’s just about being calm and relaxed, obviously we need the movement from the lads in front of us to give us the options. As long as we have the options, it gives us a great foundation to play how we want to play."
McCarthy has revealed how important Martin was in bringing him to the Midlands. The goalkeeper is understood to have had offers from the Championship and Premier League this summer, but opted to join Leicester in League One.
“I had been at Southampton a long time, finished the season there and had a message from Russ come the end of the season," he explained. "I've worked with him previously, so I knew what he was about, the way he wanted to play and the type of person he was.
"I had a chat with him, went away on holiday with my family and then kept speaking with him over the summer, then things started to progress."
He added: “Russ was a big pulling point for me, but the size of the club that Leicester is a big attraction for me. I’ve been in teams that have been promoted and relegated, but being sat here now, meeting everyone, the atmosphere, it doesn’t feel like the type of team that was relegated and in the situation that it is.
"There’s a great feel around the place already. The manager and the way he wants to play, we can achieve big things."
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