Ruud van Nistelrooy must have been grimacing in the stands as Leicester City endured a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brentford.
The Foxes were dismantled on the road, with Kevin Schade delivering a devastating hat-trick for the Bees. Leicester’s frailties were laid bare, leaving the new manager with plenty to ponder as he prepares to take charge of his first training session.
It all started brightly for Leicester when Facundo Buonanotte gave them an early lead, sparking hopes of an away triumph. But what followed was nothing short of a defensive collapse.
James Justin and Wout Faes were at the heart of the chaos as Brentford capitalised on every mistake, punishing the Foxes with ruthless efficiency.
Speaking after the match, Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted even he didn’t expect such a dominant display from his side.
“We controlled and dominated until the end of the game, even though we didn’t know what we were going to face. I expected it to be more difficult than I think it looked in the end, and you could see they changed their shape and were more defensive,” Frank told reporters.
“We went 1-0 down and kept going and showed great bounce-back mentality. We scored four top goals, all of them incredible, and were dangerous going forward.”
For Leicester, the timing of this collapse could hardly be worse. With West Ham United visiting the King Power Stadium next, the Foxes face a crucial test in their battle to climb away from the relegation zone.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, appointed to steady the ship, will lead his first training session today as he looks to instill his philosophy and restore confidence in a side that has struggled for consistency.
West Ham sit five points ahead of Leicester, but a win for the Foxes could change the landscape at the bottom of the table. Victory would not only drag the Hammers back into the relegation fight but also give Leicester valuable breathing room in their quest for survival.
The pressure is on, and van Nistelrooy has no time to waste as he prepares for his managerial debut in English football.
