Ruud van Nistelrooy makes ‘absolutely battered’ comment to show Leicester City luck is close
The Leicester City manager reacts to the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, with his side denied by Gunners substitute Mikel Merino, the substitute scoring twice in the last 10 minutes
Leicester City played to the “maximum of their capabilities” against Arsenal and future performances at the same level will see luck and results turn in their favour, manager Ruud van Nistelrooy believes.
City had looked like clinching a draw against the title-chasing Gunners on Saturday afternoon, but conceded twice to substitute Mikel Merino in the final 10 minutes, meaning they’ve not lost nine of their last 10 Premier League matches.
It was the fifth home league game in a row that City have failed to score in, but van Nistelrooy did not have a single negative word to say about his side’s performance. In his eyes, they played as well as they could have done.
“If you get absolutely battered by Arsenal today and without a kick in the game and absolutely no chance, then the result and the performance are not there,” van Nistelrooy said in his post-match press conference.
“I’ve said this many times before, we’ve had good performances and again one today, to the maximum of our capabilities. We have to keep going like this, then results will come and luck will change in our favour.
“It’s clear we’re doing absolutely what we’re can. I can’t ask for any more from the players in terms of commitment and spirit and the physical performance they put in.
“The way they were playing together and stopping this Arsenal team from playing and scoring for an awful long time, creating ourselves and playing the way we want to play, going direct when we couldn’t.
“We did everything possible today and then you can’t ask any more. You have to be proud of this team and supportive of this team, and with the belief that we keep going like this and results will come.”
In those first 80 minutes, Arsenal twice hit the woodwork through Ethan Nwaneri, but otherwise City kept them at arm’s length.
And City created a couple of decent chances themselves. Wilfred Ndidi had a header wide on the stroke of half-time, but it was the chance for Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the second half that was the big one, Myles Lewis-Skelly just nicking the ball off the Jamaican’s toe.
“It’s clearly a game of fine margins,” he added. “After 81 minutes, it’s 0-0, we had some chances where we could go up just before half-time, with Ndidi with the header, and with his volley as well.
“The second half, on the break, with Ayew’s cross, just touched by Lewis-Skelly, to go up in the game late and get the place buzzing and create the momentum.
“In the 80th minute, it’s 0-0, we’re in the game and we’re in for a result against a top team. In the end, it’s the fine margins, you don’t score yourself and Merino comes in and makes the difference there.”
