Ruud van Nistelrooy acknowledged the begin to his tenure at Leicester Metropolis has been troublesome, however is assured their fortunes will flip round.
Since changing Steve Cooper in November, Van Nistelrooy has overseen seven defeats in 9 Premier League matches, successful simply as soon as.
That run has seen the Foxes slide to nineteenth within the desk, and the Dutchman is aware of group spirit might be essential if they’re to maneuver away from hazard – beginning in opposition to Fulham on Saturday.
“From the primary day I joined, I mentioned it will go to the final day, this battle,” he mentioned. “You could have hopes which you can shock and get outcomes early, so in that sense, it’s disappointing that didn’t occur.
“There’s persistence required for a six-week begin within the collaboration between me and the membership and there must be perception that on this path, we are going to flip performances into factors.
“Once you’re in a troublesome second as a participant, you wish to see how the supervisor reacts, and once you see spirit and character and perception, you be part of him on the trail to success.
“We will solely flip it round with arduous work and togetherness. We’re able to displaying that on Saturday.”
Marco Silva, in the meantime, is in search of a response after Fulham’s 3-2 defeat by West Ham ended an eight-match unbeaten streak.
The Cottagers boss, however, has confidence in his gamers to bounce again.
“The Premier League is all the time actually aggressive,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t matter who you’re taking part in, you must all the time attain sure requirements and ranges.
“The unbeaten run was very, superb. It’s all the time troublesome to have these kinds of runs. For us, there was even a interval the place we had some vital gamers out injured and a few gamers that have been suspended. As a squad, we responded rather well.
“Small particulars led to us drawing some video games. If these small particulars went in our favour, we might have received extra. The final recreation in opposition to West Ham, it ended within the worst means potential.
“It’s as much as us now to react. We will’t change that recreation. We’ve analysed, we all know what issues occurred and what we’ve to enhance for the following one. Let’s go along with all our belief and perception and high quality to attempt to win the following one.”
Hungry for redemption #LEIFUL pic.twitter.com/SX5CGMbi46
— Leicester Metropolis (@LCFC) January 17, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leicester – Jamie Vardy
At 38 years previous, Vardy remains to be firing for Leicester and has thus far managed six league objectives this season – greater than another participant of their squad – and 7 in all competitions.
5 of these have come on the King Energy Stadium, together with the Foxes’ 6-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers within the FA Cup final weekend.
Fulham – Raul Jimenez
Jimenez is Fulham’s high scorer this season with 10 objectives in all competitions, with eight of these coming within the Premier League.
The Mexican has additionally netted 4 objectives in his final 4 appearances for the Cottagers.
MATCH PREDICTION: FULHAM WIN
Leicester have misplaced six straight league video games to slip to nineteenth within the desk, two factors from security.
They’ve failed to attain in every of their final three dwelling defeats, coming in opposition to Crystal Palace, Manchester Metropolis and fourth-bottom Wolves.
Leicester have received simply two of their 11 video games on the King Energy within the league this season (drawn three, misplaced six) and have accrued simply the fourth-fewest dwelling factors this season.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Leicester Metropolis – 27.5%
Draw – 24.8%
Fulham – 47.7%
