Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper believes the current squad is struggling to grasp Steve Cooper’s tactical approach, leaving the players uncertain about how to execute his game plan effectively.
Leicester returned to the Premier League after a year in the Championship, and their primary goal is survival. However, they currently sit 15th in the table and have yet to secure a win, with their most recent result a disappointing draw against 19th-placed Everton.
Piper, who now regularly comments on the club’s performances, feels that the players are struggling to find a way to play through the lines and create problems for their opponents.
Speaking on When You’re Smiling, Piper expressed concern over the lack of clarity in the team’s style of play.
“It still looks like I am looking at a group of players that still quite do not understand the message of what is being asked of them,” Piper said when discussing the team’s identity.
“And how we are going to get out, number one, how we are going to play through the lines.
“It looks like it is being left up to individuals. I am sure that is not the case, of course.”
Despite his praise for Cooper’s coaching abilities, Piper questioned whether the players have fully absorbed his instructions.
“Before we kicked a ball this season I was saying how much I admired Steve Cooper’s coaching journey.
“So clearly, he can coach, but I do not think these players seem to have the grasp yet on how we are going to try and put it together against these sides and hurt the opposition. I am not seeing that at the minute, I have not seen much of it all season.”
Leicester face a daunting task this weekend as they travel to the Emirates to take on Mikel Arteta’s in-form Arsenal side, where they will need to show significant improvement if they hope to avoid slipping further down the table.