Leicester City defied expectations to give their survival hopes a massive boost with a crucial victory over Tottenham at the weekend.
The Foxes had to battle back after falling behind to a first-half goal from Richarlison, eventually securing a 2-1 win.
This marked their fourth Premier League victory of the season, a result that lifted them to 17th in the table, moving above Wolves and, for the first time since mid-December, out of the relegation zone.
Despite the significance of Sunday’s result, Paul Scholes has raised doubts about Leicester City’s decision to appoint Ruud van Nistelrooy as their manager.
Paul Scholes Questions Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Move into Management
Paul Scholes, who spent four years as a teammate of Van Nistelrooy’s at Manchester United, is familiar with the Leicester manager’s playing career.
The pair shared a dressing room under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2006 to 2010, but Scholes has admitted he was surprised by Van Nistelrooy’s decision to enter management after retiring.
“No, probably not,” Scholes remarked during an appearance on The Overlap when asked if he had expected Van Nistelrooy to pursue a coaching career.
“I think Leicester took a bit of a gamble on him really didn’t they, from what they’d seen in three or four games at Man United which was good, but no, never really seen him as a coaching type. I know he did his little bit in Holland [managing PSV], and I’m not surprised it hasn’t gone as well as he probably would’ve liked because the experience just isn’t there.”
Although Scholes acknowledges his former teammate’s credentials, he believes Leicester’s chairman, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, may have erred by not appointing a more experienced Premier League manager.
Scholes Suggests David Moyes Would Have Been a Smarter Choice
Scholes argued that David Moyes, who recently returned to Everton after a stint at West Ham, would have been a more reliable choice to guide Leicester out of their precarious situation.
Moyes’ track record, he said, could have provided Leicester with the experience and organisation needed to survive in the Premier League.
“You think of Everton employing David Moyes and you think if Leicester had employed David Moyes, you’d have thought ‘Yeah, they’ve got half a chance of staying up’. Look, they still might have half a chance of staying up after beating Tottenham at the weekend it’s just that experience and that organisation — it’s so vital when you come to these Premier League teams.
“He did it with West Ham; David Moyes. Ruud just hasn’t yet got that history to say that he’s going to get you out of it [relegation battle].”
Meanwhile, Moyes’ return to Everton has already borne fruit. The Toffees have won two of their first three matches under his management, including a narrow 1-0 victory away to Brighton in their most recent outing.
These improved results have propelled Everton seven points clear of the relegation zone, having previously been within just a single point of it.
