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Claude Puel has opened up at length on his time at Leicester City for the first time since being replaced by Brendan Rodgers in February.

The French boss was in charge of the Foxes for 16 months before getting the axe amid growing discontent around the King Power Stadium.

Puel left City 12th in the table after managing a ninth-place finish in his first season in charge of the club, arriving in October 2017.

He would depart 16 months later with supporters split over his position and with members of the dressing room reportedly unhappy.

And for the first time since his departure, he has given an extensive interview on his time at City, speaking to French newspaper L'equipe.

Assessing his time in the East Midlands, Puel said: "When I arrived (in October 2017), they had won the title a year and a half earlier (in May 2016).

"It was something exceptional, which will remain exceptional. They did it with a high performance style - a low defensive base, a very direct counter game, second balls. But this team soon found themselves in trouble with opponents who had evolved.

"They struggled with low blocks because they did not have an answer. There was a lot of work to be done on the balance of the team and player profiles. It was necessary to integrate more technical elements to perform in set-attacks and the game on the ground. That's what we did and yes, there was resentment.

"In Southampton, Leicester, Nice (2012-2016) or Lille (2002-2008) I deliberately put myself in trouble. I took teams with a style of play that needed to evolve and I'm proud of what I achieved in these clubs. When we change, it hurts players who have been there for a long time. But it must be done, I have no regrets.

"I'm happy with the job I did at Leicester. It was an ageing team that needed to be regenerated. Today is the second youngest team in England with great players for the future"

In the lead up to and following Puel's sacking, there were reports that sections of the dressing room had turned on the Frenchman.

While he was still in charge, footage emerged apparently showing Jamie Vardy directing an unpleasant comment in his direction and while Puel rebuked claims it was aimed at him, City's star striker found himself dropped to the bench for the following game.

(Image: (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City via Getty Images))

That led to more rumours of City's senior stars playing a big role in Puel's dismissal, but the former Southampton boss doesn't blame those key City figures for his departure.

"When you take players out of their comfort zone or ask them to do something else, there is tension," he admitted.

"It can affect two or three players, but after I left, I received about fifteen messages from players that I did not expect.

"I got on very well with players who are now in England Under-21 squad, or in the England team. And then the results were not bad: after the first half of the season, we were seventh in the Premier League.

"With the direction we had taken, this is the place the team should be."

So why did Puel feel he was sacked and ultimately replaced by current boss Brendan Rodgers?

"When I sign for a club, I invest myself in a project and I try to lead it to its end," he replied.

"There are sometimes incidents of misunderstanding. Or simply, at some point, the results are not good enough.

"The Premier League is very demanding for results, the concept of construction does not exist over there.

"I am ambitious and I do not understand my job without the development of a team and its players. There needs to be construction.

"Afterwards, these concepts are shared or not."