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When the full-time whistle blew at Old Trafford, it was telling that it was the Leicester City fans who sang loudest. In the face of defeat on the opening night of the Premier League season to Manchester United, it was the visiting supporters, not those in red, who seemed prouder of their boys.

Not surprising, perhaps, in light of a promising, vibrant display from Claude Puel’s young, new-look side but certainly so when you consider the reaction to similar results not all that long ago.

The response marked a sense of change, that of a renewed excitement, of direction, and of hope for both this season and the future.

It’s only three months and three competitive games ago that we witnessed those toxic scenes at the King Power Stadium following Leicester’s defeat to West Ham from which there appeared little way of coming back, especially not for the manager.

Boos at half-time. Boos at full-time. Those somehow louder despite half the crowd having already left. Chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ directed at Puel. Hardly anyone stayed behind for the lap of honour, which produced farcical scenes as the squad, the staff, their families and the owners walked around and waved at plastic blue-and-white seats. Out of those who did remain, some used this as the perfect opportunity to make the owners aware just what they thought of the manager and what his fate should be.

A gulf had forged between the fans and the identity of the team they watch week after week, season after season. Here was a set of supporters, who had been so used to brave, fearless, in-yer-face, counter-attacking football and, despite that style having reaped little reward to the cost of two previous managers, were now being subjected to toothless, tepid, sideways guff.

Fans had forgotten the vibrant start to life under Puel, and the performances at Southampton and Newcastle; the pin in City’s balloon of momentum caused by Riyad Mahrez’s self-imposed winter break as well as the injury crisis that plagued the end of the campaign. That was all forgivable, perhaps, after seeing the chance at a European return slip away and performances fall off a cliff.

At the time, I wrote asking whether there was any way back for Puel after that. He was trying to insist this was not the football he wanted either; he needed a pre-season and a transfer window to get it right. He needed time.

Many reports in the national press suggested he would not be afforded that most luxury of modern-football commodities. And, once the fans turn like that, there are not many who can turn it around. Martin O’Neill is perhaps the most memorable exception. But then he is blessed with unmatchable charisma.

But, despite all that, Puel got what he wanted. And, to steal the Frenchman’s own phrase, step-by-step has begun to turn those opinions around.

City’s owners backed him, not just in the face of fan revolt, but also in the transfer market. Among the seven new arrivals, Leicester signed Ricardo Pereira, who had played under Puel at Nice. The same, too, with Rachid Ghezzal, who was a youth player at Lyon when Puel was in charge. Both Puel’s men.

James Maddison, the most creative player in the Championship last season, also joined to play the No.10 role that Puel was so desperate to fill to make his desire for City to keep the ball effective. His early performances have given fans reason to be excited.

Pre-season was tough, attempting to balance the staggered return of Puel’s international stars with giving mandatory minutes to an overgrown squad filled with players for whom the manager would not see any future. He has since said he is ready to make the hard decisions to cull some established Leicester names.

A goalless draw with Turkish also-rans Akhisarspor and a defeat to Udinese got the critics twitching.

But a positive outing against Valencia, and a victory over Lille, and perhaps things were not all that bad after all.

And, if the performance at Old Trafford is anything to go by, there is now the first flicker of a new, young, exciting direction under Puel.

Yes, Leicester lost and, regardless of the display, some will point out that it still harboured zero points. But in spells they dominated United, and played fast, attacking, purposeful football. Were it not for the super-human reflexes of David De Gea, City may have earned more from their trip than just plaudits.

Maddison thrived on the big stage while fellow England youngsters Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray linked up with him in a Young Lions triumvirate. The bromance that the trio enjoy off the field is reaping benefits on it.

(Image: Leicester City FC)

Where all this differs to last season’s dull fare is that fans can finally see an identity to the team. Not just a collection of bodies passing it about, looking at each other wondering what the point of all this might be. They can see a purpose and a direction. And, unlike before, that direction is forwards.

If supporters can see that, they at least have something to get behind.

Puel deserves great credit for it. But there are also many more things he must also get right for the most steadfast of critics to change their minds.

The decision to play Daniel Amartey at right-back was odd, considering Pereira was seen to have filled the need for more attacking threat in that position.

Puel’s insistence to start Wes Morgan over Aleksandar Dragovic annoyed many supporters last season. And while City’s captain did not let his side down at all at Old Trafford, once Jonny Evans is fully fit, Filip Benkovic is settled and Caglar Soyuncu’s work permit is sorted, it will be interesting to see what Puel does there.

For now, though, there are more reasons to be positive than there are for concern.

It was not the result the fans wanted, and they will want to see these performances turned into victories, and quickly, but they finally have a Leicester, albeit it a new one, to cheer.