Ruud van Nistelrooy in Leicester City ‘audition’ amid clear relegation plan Latest Leicester City news as Ruud van Nistelrooy point made after 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion..
Pundit Troy Deeney pointed to positive signs for the future for Leicester City after their dismal losing streak came to an end.
The visitors twice came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, halting an eight-match run of Premier League defeats. Relegation is still likely but it was a spirited display from Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side.
According to Deeney, the performance represented a platform for City to build upon as thoughts begin to turn to next season and the possibility of life back in the Championship. He pointed to foundations being put in place, with Van Nistelrooy “auditioning” to be part of the club’s plans.
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“Based on today and solely on today you can see what Ruud van Nistelrooy is trying to do,” the former striker told talkSPORT (via Inside Futbol). “You can see a future with a load of young players.
“They have offered a lot more going forward, especially in the second half. He (Van Nistelrooy) is probably auditioning for himself.
“For Leicester, when you are expected to go down and put a performance on, this has been really good. Probably on the reflection of play in the second half, they should be winning this game.”
After the game, Van Nistelrooy himself admitted there had been a change in tack from previous weeks. He outlined how greater importance is now being given to preparing for next term.
“It’s very clear (there was more fight). We talked a lot about how to break a negative cycle, because when you’re in there, you think it’s never going to end.
“It starts with changing your behaviour. You have to act now, you can’t wait in difficult moments, in adversity. You can’t wait for something to change, you have to start acting. We spoke about it a lot.
“We also spoke about how to use the next six weeks for the absolute benefit of every individual in the squad to prepare in the best way possible for the next season, without stopping the fight until it’s mathematically over. That’s including new players in the squad, shaping the future in that way. It’s a change of course since the Newcastle game and is definitely the way forward if I look at this performance today.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday has left City on the brink of the drop. Van Nistelrooy’s men are 17 points adrift of Wolves and West Ham United with six games to play.
Next weekend could prove to be decisive in the relegation battle. The Hammers take on Southampton next Saturday, then Wolves travel to face Manchester United the following day (2pm kick-off). City host Liverpool two-and-a-half hours later on the Sunday (4.30pm kick-off).
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