Ruud van Nistelrooy with Leicester City is faced with the second class before relegation. Both his job and his reputation as head coach are at stake for the former star striker.
A few minutes before the end of the game, the King Power Stadium in Leicester emptied noticeably. At this point, the domestic Foxes were once more back at home – again without their own hits.
The 0: 3 on Sunday against an away weakness Manchester United marked the next low in the season of Leicester City. The team of head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is now behind a non -relegation place.
Head coach at Leicester City: Ruud van Nistelrooy
13 defeats in the last 14 games
The shape curve from the past few weeks and months speaks too clearly against a rescue of the Foxes: Leicester City 13 of the past 14 league games lost and only won three cheered points in the 2-1 away win in London against Tottenham Hotspur. During this period, the club conceded a total of 35 goals and in turn only hit the opposing goal four times.
Not many arguments no longer speak for the former world-class striker Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United, Real Madrid, Hamburger SV), to stay in the office of head coach evenly beyond the summer. With high hopes, the responsible Leicester had only signed the 48-year-old last November, and the shape curve has been alarming since then.
Since Van Nistelroy’s taking office, the club has only scored seven points in 16 league games. Only three coaches in the history of the Premier League got fewer points in their first 16 Premier League games.
No home gate for over three months
Another horror statistics: Leicester City is the first team in the league history that has lost seven home games in a row without their own goal. Since December 8, 2024, the fans of the Foxes have not been able to celebrate a league goal in the home stadium.
Leicester’s time in the Premier League should gradually run, especially since Manchester City (fifth), Newcastle (sixth), Brighton (seventh) and Liverpool (first) are the next four opponents.
Van Nistelrooy nevertheless – what remains – in purpose optimism: “If you stop believing in yourself, you can be sure that you will not succeed. If you believe in your work and do your job and believe that things will change, it can change, ”emphasized the Dutch after the 0: 3 bankruptcy against Manchester United.
“I stay myself, I will neither change as a person nor as a trainer. The approach that we try to achieve with the players on the training ground and in the approach to the games is the way we are on. Of course we question ourselves and we try everything to improve the results. That is my job and I will continue to do so. “
Leicester wants to prevent second descent in two years
After PSV Eindhoven, Leicester City is his second career station as head coach. Before his commitment to the Foxes, the 48-year-old initially worked as an assistant coach under Erik Ten HAG at Manchester United. At the end of October 2024, he then took the office of chief coach for four competitive games after Ten HAG was released.
The step towards Leicester City followed, where, after disappointing months, Van Nistelrooy is not just about averting Leicester’s second Premier League descent within two years.
It is also about Van Nistelroy’s personal reputation. Therefore, not ending as a worst Leicester trainer of all time – which would not be an application letter for upcoming commitments at a high level.