Van Nistelrooy Needs to Address Leicester’s Toxic Dressing Room Immediately – Along with Four Other Essential Challenges
RUUD VAN NISTELROOY marked his arrival at Leicester City last night, taking the helm as the new manager after Steve Cooper’s exit.
However, to succeed at King Power Stadium, he must confront the challenges he has inherited, rather than ignore them, if he aims to leave his legacy.
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Here are five essential issues Van Nistelrooy must tackle to rejuvenate the Foxes and avoid a rude awakening in his first permanent managerial role in the Premier League.
TACKLE A TOXIC DRESSING ROOM
A recent video from a nightclub in Copenhagen has shamed the club, its management, and the fans.
Ultimately, it should have been a source of embarrassment for the players.
They may have believed it was cute to showcase their fondness for Enzo Maresca and their desire for his return.
If it was aimed as a jab at their terminated manager Steve Cooper, it significantly missed the mark.
They ought to remember that Maresca left them at the first opportunity, rendering their loyalty ill-placed.
They deserved a stern talking-to from owner Top Srivaddhanaprabha during intense discussions on Tuesday about the club’s future.
Van Nistelrooy has a track record of not putting up with nonsense, having dealt with discontent among PSV players and staff after his first season, even though it was a successful one.
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His illustrious playing career will bring him immediate respect, but that could quickly dwindle if the current squad turns against him and starts longing for Maresca’s return!
It’s vital for Van Nistelrooy to cultivate a cohesive dressing room for Leicester to flourish.
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Leicester stars celebrate in a nightclub next to an ‘Enzo, I miss you’ sign, just hours after a loss to Chelsea and the dismissal of Cooper
REPAIR A STRUGGLING DEFENSE
Effective managers prioritize a strong defense.
As any builder would tell you, without reliable foundations, a structure risks falling apart.
Leicester has scored in all but one of their Premier League matches this season and has netted as many goals as the high-performing Nottingham Forest.
However, they have only achieved one clean sheet, and only Wolves and the last-placed Southampton have conceded more goals than Leicester’s 23.
Cooper recognized this problem, aiming to secure a skilled goalkeeper in January.
He envied his former club Nottingham Forest’s acquisition of solid Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic over the summer.
Caleb Okoli shows promise but is still raw.
Jannick Vestergaard, a veteran of the Championship, has not been effective in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Conor Coady is better suited to a formation with three defenders.
Van Nistelrooy needs to swiftly find a reliable partner for Belgian international Wout Faes.
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FIND A LONG-TERM SUCCESSOR FOR JAMIE VARDY
Jamie Vardy remains Leicester’s chief striker, but at 37 years old, that presents a dilemma.
While he’s enjoying a resurgence, he can’t go on forever and should ideally take on less responsibility to allow younger players to step up.
Unfortunately for Leicester fans, there’s no obvious successor ready to take Vardy’s place.
Steve Cooper signed Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Eduard, but neither seems to offer a long-term fix.
The Foxes have recorded the fewest shots on target in the Premier League and have the second lowest expected goals tally.
Injuries to key winger Abdul Fatawu, who is out for the season due to an ACL injury, have significantly hampered progress.
If Van Nistelrooy wishes to persevere at Leicester, he needs to unearth a younger version of himself!
But who better to spot that
