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Claude Puel can see light at the end of Leicester City’s tunnel as they negotiate a challenging Christmas period.

City have suffered back-to-back league defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Manchester City on Tuesday night, and it doesn’t get any easier for them as they travel to Chelsea on Saturday before taking on Manchester City again on Boxing Day.

City need something from the next two games to avoid heading into the crucial clash with Cardiff City at King Power Stadium on December 29 on the back of possibly four consecutive league defeats, but he told City fans there would be better times ahead in the second half of the season.

The Frenchman believes his players haven’t seized certain opportunities so far this season but praised them for how they have handled some difficult moments, including the helicopter tragedy in October that claimed the lives of five people, including chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

“I think we have improved without the results - I will explain,” said Puel.

“If we look at just our last game at Palace, if we had won we would be seventh in the table. We lost and we are 12th. It is the difference.

“We have wasted a lot of opportunities to move up to find a place in the top of the rankings. It is a shame.

“I have confidence in the squad and their progress, and about their learning. I think we will have a strong second half of the season.

“We have to manage these two difficult games but the second half will be better because I have a quality squad with talented players.

“They learn and they will give their best in the second half because they love this squad and the club.

“We have had difficult things to mange in the first half but we are always here. We are always in condition to perform.

“We made a good performance without getting the results. Sometimes we have been unlucky and sometimes we have had elements go against us.

“It is important to manage all this and keep on track and continue this journey.”