
Ruud van Nistelrooy makes relegation vow with Leicester City needing to eclipse great escape
Leicester City are nine points off safety with nine games to go after losing 3-0 to Manchester United at the King Power Stadium on Sunday evening, their 13th loss in 14
Leicester City will fight for survival until it’s mathematically impossible, Ruud van Nistelrooy has vowed despite the club’s woeful form.
A 13th defeat in 14 matches to Manchester United on Sunday night means City are nine points off safety with nine games to go.
When they completed their great escape 10 years ago, the gap was only seven points at its largest.
READ MORE: Leicester City player ratings v Man United as duo score 3 after bizarre moment in dismal defeat
READ MORE: ‘Garbage’ Leicester City sent angry message after Man United defeat
While City look destined for the drop, van Nistelrooy said his side were not waving the white flag.
“It’s about the mathematical possibility that is there,” van Nistelrooy said. “As long as that is the case, we are professionals and keep doing our jobs. We can’t and won’t give up until it’s mathematically impossible.”
As for City’s latest defeat, van Nistelrooy felt the game was settled in the two boxes. It was the seventh straight home game City have lost without scoring, a top-flight record.
They had more chances than usual, Jamie Vardy denied by Andre Onana late on and Facundo Buonanotte seeing a goalbound shot blocked by Matthijs De Ligt at 2-0.
But they again failed to find the net and still didn’t do enough to deserve anything from the game.
Asked where the game was lost, van Nistelrooy replied: “In efficiency, in taking opportunities, scoring, and in defending key moments in the game. That’s where the difference was made today.
“The opportunities we created were there to score one or two goals. It’s not falling our way at the moment, it’s clear. You’ve seen the chances. Also defending some key moments in the game, we could have done better.
“That’s the scoreboard. That’s where you as a team put the numbers on the scoreboard or keeping your opponents from scoring.
“Other than that, the effort was there, the positive approach was there, putting pressure on the opponent, creating chances. But then it’s the next thing to take them.”
Transfer status of every Leicester City player with relegation leading to summer of change
A closer look at who might stay and who might go at Leicester City this summer, whether they miraculously remain in the Premier League or drop down to the Championship
It will be another summer of change for Leicester City if they fall into the Championship again.
Just under half of City’s first-team squad departed the last time they dropped a division and a similar number of exits would be expected again.
But even if they miraculously stay up, the predicament they have found themselves in this season may mean the club want an overhaul of the squad anyway.
READ MORE: Leicester City player ratings v Man United as duo score 3 after bizarre moment in dismal defeat
READ MORE: Gary Lineker’s business makes more than his BBC wage as Leicester legend’s earnings soar
Here’s a rundown of what might happen to each and every player.
Goalkeepers
Whether City stay up or not, summer interest in Mads Hermansen feels inevitable and a departure very possible. He proved in the few months prior to his injury that he is comfortably of Premier League quality, producing some astounding saves, while he showed off his excellence with his feet last season.
Given Enzo Maresca knows how good he is, and given neither Robert Sanchez nor Filip Jorgensen have had brilliant seasons, Chelsea interest would not be a surprise. While losing a player of Hermansen’s quality would be a blow, City at least know that, in the event of a sale, they would make a huge profit on the £6.5m they paid for the Dane.