Leicester City appear rejuvenated under the stewardship of Ruud van Nistelrooy, with the Dutchman overseeing a marked improvement since his arrival at the end of November.
The Foxes have collected four points from a possible six, including a spirited comeback against Brighton at the weekend, where they clawed back from two goals down to secure a late draw. This followed an impressive victory over West Ham United.
Jamie Vardy, seemingly revitalised under van Nistelrooy, has found the back of the net in consecutive games, while the entire squad appears buoyed by the new manager’s presence.
Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen has now shed light on the players’ reaction to the departure of former manager Steve Cooper, revealing the squad’s proactive response to the upheaval.
Leicester Players Held Meeting After Cooper’s Exit
Speaking to Danish outlet Bold DK, Hermansen disclosed that the Leicester squad convened immediately after Cooper’s dismissal to address their collective shortcomings.
“It has been a negative situation for everyone that a manager had to be sacked,” the 24-year-old said.
“That is of course negative, and it’s something we are sad as a club to end up doing. As a group of players, we were quick to get together and discuss what we could do better in the future to avoid it happening again, because it shouldn’t happen in our club.
“It hasn’t sailed… but we haven’t developed enough as a team. We haven’t constantly gotten better. We haven’t left the field and taken something with us that has made us better for the next match.
“As a team, we have failed to build on our level, and it has maybe been a bit standstill the past few months, and that is of course never good for a football team when you aren’t developing as you should.”
Van Nistelrooy Offers a Fresh Approach
Steve Cooper’s sacking may have divided opinion among neutrals, but Leicester supporters had long voiced their discontent. Now, early results under van Nistelrooy suggest their frustration was justified.
The former PSV Eindhoven boss has instilled an effective pressing game, a tactic that paid dividends during Leicester’s draw against Brighton, where Bobby De Cordova-Reid capitalised to secure a crucial equaliser.
Under Cooper’s near five-month tenure, the Foxes often appeared disjointed, lacking any clear strategy to press opponents or assert themselves offensively.
In contrast, van Nistelrooy’s Leicester have already scored five goals in two games, highlighting the immediate impact of his attacking philosophy.
With the Dutchman at the helm, Leicester City’s prospects appear considerably brighter. Fans will hope this resurgence marks the beginning of a new, more successful chapter at the King Power Stadium.