Pep Guardiola's disciple Enzo Maresca is taking Leicester to a whole new level

It might have been an excuse to cover up a wretched run of one win in eight for his underachieving Stoke side, but the words of Potters boss Alex Neil were telling about Leicester. ‘They will be one of the best Championship sides of all time,’ he said.

The Scotsman’s comments came after his side were dispatched 2-0 as the Foxes recorded a sixth straight league victory to go into the international break 10 points clear of third-placed Preston after just 11 games.

Many pundits have argued that the Championship title race is already over in October. Fans of the Football League know better than most that these divisions are a marathon not a sprint but it’s hard not to make that case for the fantastic Foxes and their forward-thinking boss Enzo Maresca, who spent last season as assistant to Pep Guardiola at Treble-winning Manchester City.

The statistics speak for themselves. Only Sheffield United in 2005-06 have had more points than Leicester at this stage of a Championship season. Maresca’s side are the 11th in second-tier history — not just the Championship era — to amass 30 points after 11 games.

All of the 10 previous sides were promoted. Leicester aren’t thrashing teams, but limiting the opposition and sucking the life out of games with their uber-possession style. On average, they are conceding just 0.54 goals a game.

There are many rival fans who point to Leicester’s budget and the fact their squad is stacked with international talent. That view is not wrong, but it is lazy to suggest it is as simple as that.

Maresca inherited a broken squad full of emotional baggage after a shock relegation. Many star men departed, such as James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.

Speaking to those in the know around the club, tales of Maresca’s