Approaching his one-year anniversary in charge of Leicester, opinion on Claude Puel remains divided. Almost fortnightly debate swirls on message boards and in the boardroom: should he stay or should he go?
To some he is a manager who steered the club away from relegation trouble while carrying out the difficult task of transitioning on from Premier League winners. He has seen four young English players emerge into the international reckoning in Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell, James Maddison, and Demarai Gray, while trying to alter the team's style of play.
To others he is a muted figure who struggles to inspire, is wedded to an approach that doesn't suit the talents of an impressive squad, and has simply not gained good enough results. After four wins and four defeats this campaign there is a lingering suspicion his tenure is on borrowed time, with the criticisms that last season brought him to the brink of the sack still relevant.
On Thursday it is a year to the day Puel was appointed and to mark the occasion he gave an hour-long audience to discuss his time in the East Midlands. He reflected philosophically on what appears a perennially precarious position.
'We talk, we share a lot of feelings,' he said of his relationship with Leicester's powerbrokers. 'You can change the manager every four or five months, the directors, the players, all these things.
'I am just an employee. I try to give my best for the club in the right way, to grow step by step. I will keep it that way whether there is pressure or no pressure.'
The last time Leicester faced Arsenal, in May, Puel was aware he needed a win to save his job. Four victories in 19 Premier League games had left him at major risk.
But Leicester did beat Arsene Wenger's side and Puel stayed, unexpectedly. As the teams meet again, he could do with another performance like that.
The issues stem from his management style and tactical instructions. At Southampton staff wondered why he would eat his meals in his office, door closed, rather than with players and colleagues, and there is similar disquiet over his cloistered personality at Belvoir Drive.
In pre-season he drew seemingly unnecessary battle lines by working predominantly with a chosen group of players, while leaving the rest to his assistants. Puel also sanctioned Michael Appleton's departure as No 2 and the former Oxford manager was given the news by phone while on honeymoon.
Sportsmail understands the unrest led to Leicester's board considering a change before the season started. But after sacking Claudio Ranieri and Craig Shakespeare in the space of eight months it is believed owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha were mindful of a reputation for hiring and firing.
The doubts continued though and looked like coming to a head when Huddersfield took the lead at the King Power Stadium last month, only for Leicester to stage a comeback win.
Key to victory was a return to the fast-paced breaks that hallmarked the title triumph. Some players believe the personnel available makes speed a necessity but Puel prefers a gradual build up of attack through considered passing and will not be swayed.
'Leicester had success and won the Premier League without a lot of experience and without a process for strategy,' he said.
'It was fantastic. But the important question afterwards was, 'Is it possible to reproduce this performance for another year with the same ingredients?' For me it is not possible. We needed to put in place something strong.
'I don't know if it was the best time to arrive at Leicester because the club needed to evolve. The players who won the Premier League were valuable to the team and for the fans. But we needed to improve. Some players can form the new version of the club. For other players it will be difficult.
'If I continued with the same players we wouldn't find other characteristics, other possibilities. For example would Chilwell be selected for the national team? Gray? Maddison?'
Those points are valid and Puel is good company in an intimate setting, better than his press conference appearances. He tells of the time at Monaco training he went in hard on Wenger, the then manager.
'He cried out and could not move,' Puel said, smiling. 'The physio had to take him to see another person in the gym. I thought it was finished for me. It was funny because he went into the air and fell into the snow with his arms flailing and he couldn't move.'
Rather than live in the Leicestershire suburbs like Ranieri, he shares an apartment with his wife in the city centre and laughs at how his competitive streak extends to trying to beat her at golf. 'Often she is angry,' he said.
Senior staff members at Leicester have encouraged Puel to communicate more with his players, to show this human side, and his English is gradually improving, although he still requires a translator to assist on complicated questions at media briefings.
He cites the World Cup and transfer interest in his players as 'disturbances' that caused the disastrous end to last season, and for the first time accepted publicly Riyad Mahrez's 'own enforced absence' was difficult to manage.
Ultimately he appears at peace with his methods. When asked if he believed the 3-1 win over Arsenal five months ago spared his job he prefers to answer with his management manifesto. 'It's not my concern,' he said. 'I'm a professional and what has to happen, happens. The most important thing is to keep the way. I will not change.
'Of course it is difficult but it is a good risk for the club because it's a possibility to have good players without spending fantastic money like other clubs.
'I can understand it all because the owners have the responsibility of the club and all the directors take the decision.
'I think my best is to give a good structure, not just for me, but for the next manager and staff. Not just to take what is interesting in the first moment and then I leave. If I can help the club to develop I'm happy.'