Gap to safety is 'too much' - Van Nistelrooypublished at 23:14 2 April
23:14 2 April
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Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, speaking to Sky Sports: "Bad start. Concede early and then a second at 29 minutes. Then we have to control to make sure it's not three or four at half-time.
"Not scoring, losing games, bad start is extra hard to recover from. Situation we're in, only by hard work can we get out. The gap is huge now it's a challenge. Nevertheless we have eight games to play and we have to represent ourselves in the best possible way and that's a challenge."
On difficulty of not scoring when a goalscorer himself: "Ironic isn't it? Hard for all of us. We're working, trying things. We want to improve, the two goals we conceded are our own mistakes and you can't afford that especially away at City. Scoring goals is a problem, the ball doesn't seem to go in.
"Today, before the game, I mentioned it because the gap was already big. I asked the players that the remaining moments we have at this level we have to make the most of it no matter the table or the score in the game. We have to go from first to last minute and give it everything.
"We can be real about it, 12 points eight games to play. It's a very big difference, too much. Focus on game to game and presenting ourselves in the best possible way. That is the main target now."
Man City 2-0 Leicester: Did you know?published at 22:48 2 April
22:48 2 April
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Leicester City have conceded the first goal in 25 of their 30 Premier League games this season - the outright most times a team has conceded first in their opening 30 matches of a Premier League campaign, surpassing Ipswich's record from 1994-95 (24).
They are also now without a clean sheet in their past 23 league games this season - the longest run without a shutout in a single top-flight campaign since a run of 30 for Wolves in 2011-12.
Leicester City have just nine games or 810 minutes to get as many points as possible from the 27 remaining.
It really is the business end of the season for us. A defining period determining whether said "business" will be in the Premier League or Championship next season.
It is beginning to feel like a foregone conclusion, but then I cling onto any diminishing hope remaining by remembering that it was the 30th fixture of the season back in 2015 that Leicester's famous "Great Escape" began.
Unfortunately, this season's 30th fixture comes in the form of a large obstacle called Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. There is no doubt about it, Leicester have not even reached Base Camp and yet the task set before them is a direct ascent up Mount Everest.
I would guess most fans have accepted relegation now but, until it is mathematically confirmed, fans expect to see fight, grit, humility, dynamism, quick decision-making and proactivity. And that is just from Ruud van Nistelrooy.
We are desperate for our play to include aggression, tenacity, the fire in our belly and the undertone of writing us off at your peril. Kasabian's famous song "Underdog" plays out as the players walk onto the King Power turf and the line "See the local loves a fighter" needs to galvanise the team to leave it all out there. It is really a case of "go hard or go down".
Some form of result against Manchester City would really help with crowd belief and atmosphere - something which we can carry into the final four home games of the season to make the King Power a cauldron as it once has been.
As with any underdog though, it is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
Turnover fell from £177.3m to £105.3m while in the second tier, but gate receipts remained at £18.4m and other commercial revenues increased by £0.3m to £9.8m.
Chief executive Susan Whelan said: "Operating outside of the Premier League during the 2023-24 season required some obvious adjustments compared with previous years. However, we achieved success on the pitch and attained promotion and the Championship title at the end of the season.
"We still have work to do to return to the consistent heights of the past 15 years and the ability to successfully adapt to different challenges is a strength we will rely on as we build for future seasons."
Analysing the figures, BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin said: "It is important to note that combining the losses published by clubs over the past three years does not amount to the losses PSR will look at.
"Clubs have the opportunity to have add-backs to the figures, such as investment in the academy, club infrastructure and the women's team, which don't count towards the PSR calculations.
"However, this set of accounts is a positive addition to the PSR calculations for Leicester City with a huge decrease in losses from the previous accounts and those add-backs still to come in."
Sutton's predictions: Man City v Leicesterpublished at 11:03 2 April
11:03 2 April
It is exactly the fixture Manchester City would want after their FA Cup win at Bournemouth, when Pep Guardiola was speaking about his players showing heart and soul, and the desire and passion that they need.
The way he was talking shows how much winning the FA Cup means to him, but does it mean they are back on track? I am not sure, and I don't think this game will tell us much either because they should blow Leicester away even if they are nowhere near their best.
Leicester have not scored a league goal since the end of January, and I don't see that changing at Etihad Stadium. They are at the stage where their fans cheer a corner, let alone a shot at goal - that's desperate, and that's where Leicester are at.
From what Pep was saying, he knows how important this game is for their run-in, as Manchester City look to secure Champions League football next season. I don't think there is any chance they will slip up.
Man City v Leicester: Did you know?published at 08:33 2 April
08:33 2 April
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None of Leicester's 12 Premier League away games against Manchester City have been drawn, with the Foxes winning five to Manchester City's seven. The 10 meetings between the pair at Etihad Stadium in the competition have produced a total of 43 goals (Manchester City 25, Leicester 18).
Leicester have conceded the first goal in 24 of their 29 Premier League games this season - at least five more than anyone else. Should they fall 1-0 behind to Manchester City here, it will be the outright most times a team has conceded first in their opening 30 matches of a Premier League campaign (25), surpassing Ipswich's record from 1994-95 (24).
'It is now or never - and it might even be mission impossible'published at 09:28 1 April
09:28 1 April
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Leicester City will be hoping to kick-start their bid for Premier League survival against Manchester City on Wednesday and The Athletic's Rob Tanner believes it is a case of "now or never" for Ruud van Nistelrooy's side, following the two-week international break.
Manchester City have won nine of their past 10 Premier League games against the Foxes, including the past six by an aggregate score of 15-4.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Tanner said: "It is now or never - but we have been saying that for weeks!
"They did have a run of games up to this point which were much more positive for them to be able to get some points from, but they didn't get any points.
"Now they are going into a run of games against Manchester City, Newcastle United, Brighton and Liverpool - and that's all before they get to the final five games.
"We've been saying for quite a while now that Leicester City will only have a chance of surviving if they are still in touch when they get to those final five games, but they are nine points adrift now.
"If they lose at Manchester City, which you would expect them to do, and Wolves pick up a positive result against West Ham United, then suddenly it will become mission impossible.
"We have talked a lot about 'The Great Escape' 10 years ago and the factors behind that. The team were in a particularly bad position back then, but I can remember them never really being out of those games and they weren't taking a beating every week.
"A lot of that was because they were naive about the Premier League because it was all new to them, but a lot of these current lads have experienced the Premier League before and shouldn't be making the same mistakes.
"So it is now or never - and it might even be mission impossible for them."
Van Nistelrooy on Pereira and players' 'appetite' to prove themselvespublished at 12:25 31 March
12:25 31 March
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Manchester City (kick-off 19:45 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Defender Ricardo Pereira is "doing really well" and could be available if he trains with the squad today and tomorrow.
On using the international break to re-group: "We had less players away than were here, so we had a big group. The way we're training, we're doing everything to get the most out of our players. The appetite is there to show ourselves and we have to prove that on Wednesday."
He said they "have one target and it's to stay in this league" so that was the focus during the international break.
He acknowledged the difficult teams they are to face in the coming weeks and said "it's a privilege to play" against some of the best teams in the league as "it's a great challenge."
On the general morale within the group: "The players are doing everything they can to be the best they can be."
🎧 'It feels like the whole club is on auto pilot'published at 12:26 28 March
12:26 28 March
Former Leicester City interim manager Michael Appleton joined Owynn Palmer-Atkin and The Fosse Way's David Bevan to discuss Leicester's poor form on the When You're Smiling podcast.
"Leicester need a result from somewhere and that result has got to come quickly. It's a very difficult position. Losing games of football is just as much of a habit as winning matches. It just comes down to confidence and momentum. When you go on a losing streak, things come less naturally to you," said Appleton.
Bevan added: "You look at the stats. They have lost 13 in 14, haven't scored a goal at home in seven games. It is really difficult to have any optimism about even reaching Wolves' current tally to be honest."
Wolves are 17th in the league and have 26 points, nine more than the Foxes.
"Even as a manager, losing this many games and not scoring any goals without a change being made is kind of unprecedented in my time supporting the club. It speaks to a lack of ambition but it feels to me that the only reason they haven't made a change is because of the financial restrictions and even that is down to long-term decision making that the club is responsible for," Bevan continued.
Leicester's most recent league match, where they lost 3-0 against Manchester United, meant they became the first team in English top-flight history to lose seven home games in succession while failing to score in each.
"We just want to see something a little bit different for those final few games. It really feels at the moment like the whole club is on auto pilot."
Premier League to have two summer transfer windowspublished at 13:57 27 March
13:57 27 March
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Premier League clubs have agreed the dates for the summer transfer window.
The window will open early, between Sunday 1 June and Tuesday 10 June, due to an exceptional registration period relating to the Fifa Club World Cup.
It will then reopen on Monday 16 June and close on Monday 1 September.
Are fans part of the blame for Leicester's demise?published at 12:46 27 March
12:46 27 March
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We asked for you to tell us one thing that no-one is talking about at Leicester.
Here are some of your comments:
Mark: What no-one wants to talk about - is it time for Jamie Vardy to retire?
Barney: We all share some blame for where we are. The fans who are most vocal regarding Rudkin and the board were the ones who vehemently wanted Steve Cooper out (far too early). Board capitulated to pressure. Biggest problem has been fair pay rules which meant we had to sell top players over many years and if you then don't get the quality right (which is very difficult) you are in difficulties.
Ian: DannyWard was blamed for taking us down two seasons ago, yet Mads Hermansen is getting no mention or blame as all of it is focused on striker, defence and quality issues.
Chris: Odsonne Edouard - he's played about 30 Premier League minutes under two managers yet never gets mentioned?
Tom: Who is actually running the club? Is it Top? Rudkin? Because it seems like the wheels have fallen off right at the board level and it is filtering down to the pitch. No leadership, no direction, zero commitment and communication.
What's the one thing no-one is talking about?published at 13:08 26 March
13:08 26 March
Times are tough at Leicester - rolling the dice on Ruud van Nistelrooy has not worked and fan frustration around King Power Stadium is palpable.
Give us a peek behind the curtain. While many issues are well documented, you know your club best, so tell us the one thing that no-one is talking about at Leicester but really should be.
'Give the fans something to cling onto'published at 12:36 25 March
12:36 25 March
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BBC Sport's John Bennett says Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy needs to use the extended gap between games to get the players "really working hard" to give the supporters "a bit of hope going into next season".
The Foxes are on a run of 13 defeats in their last 14 Premier League games, sit nine points from safety, and look all but condemned to an immediate return to the Championship.
However, FA Cup quarter finals being played this weekend means it will be 16 days between the defeat to Manchester United before the international break and their next fixture.
"This is a really long break and it's a tough one for a manager," Bennett told the When You're Smiling podcast.
"It's more than two weeks with the next game not until next Wednesday against Manchester City.
"You would hope Van Nistelrooy has given the players some time off but then got them back in and got them really working hard. You can't give up.
"What needs to happen between now and the end of the season is restoring a bit of pride because there is nothing at the moment for the Leicester fans to cling onto. There is no hope.
"It is really easy to get away tickets at the moment which tells me the fans have just lost all belief and hope. Even if they go down they need to show a bit of fight in these remaining games to give the fans something to cling onto so there is a bit of hope going into next season."
Which player needs to do more in the closing stages of season?published at 12:39 24 March
12:39 24 March
Chris Forryan Fan writer
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There are some questions that you are just not able to answer. Who is your favourite child? Daddy or chips?
But here is one that is easier: which player needs to do more for you in the closing stages of the season?
One name stands out. Well, stands, jumps and shouts, if I'm honest.
Belgian landmark the Manneken Pis' defending would be about as effective as Belgian defender Wout Faes' defending.
The centre-back got a zero rating for a recent display for his national team from a Belgian newspaper.
Forgive me for being a tad naive, but aren't central defenders supposed to tackle?
In the two games against Brentford this season he did not make one. In fact, in the past 365 days, he has made just 41 tackles.
In that time, Faes has played 35 league games in two divisions, meaning his average is just 1.17 tackles per game. He has made 28 interceptions and 28 clearances, both fewer that one per game on average.
I will concede that his blocks and clearances were better - with 88 and 89 respectively - but I think we can see where he needs to improve.
Academy talent and astute signings? Are Foxes equipped for Championship?published at 13:16 21 March
13:16 21 March
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
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Our football news reporter Nick Mashiter has been taking your Leicester City questions.
Paddy asked: Why do other Premier League clubs have a conveyor belt of players coming through their youth academy and making appearances in the first team. Is Seagrave not working?
Nick: Ben Chilwell, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harvey Barnes have earned the club £113m over the past few years, which justifies the academy output.
Just because there has not been a breakout star this season does not mean Seagrave is not working. It also has to be the right time to introduce young players into the team, taking their development - mentally and physically - into account.
You cannot forget Liverpool took Trey Nyoni from Leicester in 2023. The midfielder has already made five appearances for the Reds this season - including in the Champions League. So the conveyor belt is there - it is just that bigger sides are taking them away early.
Winger Jeremy Monga is expected to be the next star, although the Foxes face a battle to keep him with Manchester City interested.
At just 15, Monga and has travelled with the senior squad this season - Steve Cooper regretted not including him in the squad to face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup defeat in October.
Ruud van Nistelrooy did have him on the bench against United in the FA Cup and Monga has captained England Under-16s this season.
Forward Jake Evans, who has 10 goals in Premier League 2, has been training with the seniors regularly and the 17-year-old is in the plans for pre-season.
Others including Thomas Wilson-Brown - on loan at Kilmarnock - and Will Alves - who is now on loan at Cardiff - have been on the bench.
That is not forgetting Kasey McAteer, Luke Thomas and Jakub Stolarczyk who have all played this season and came through the academy at various stages.
Stuart asked: How equipped are Leicester City to be a force in the Championship next season? Can a combination of our academy talent and astute new signings reignite this club?
Nick: Similar to Dave's question (08:20 GMT), it is a difficult one to answer. I would love to have a crystal ball to definitively say Leicester will walk the Championship next season, but there could well be a lot of change before a ball is kicked in August.
The Foxes will remain a draw and a big club in the division and astute is the right word to use for signings because finances will again be tight and they will need to be clever in the market.
That is likely to mean the academy players will be promoted - as mentioned, Evans and Monga are two of those - because the club will need to use the resources they have.
To satisfy the finances, players will leave. Mads Hermansen will have interest, it will be hard to keep Wilfred Ndidi in the Championship again and Sunderland could come back in for McAteer after their deadline day bid was rejected.
Only once the summer window has closed and we know the make-up of Leicester's squad will we be able to start a proper assessment.
Why have we become so uncompetitive?published at 10:47 21 March
10:47 21 March
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
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Our football news reporter Nick Mashiter has been taking your Leicester City questions.
Stuart asked: Why have we become so uncompetitive and unable to score under Ruud van Nistelrooy, compared with Steve Cooper, when we have the exact same squad ?
Nick: Steve Cooper did not win over the entire squad and therefore had a problem with getting his messaging over, yet his stock has risen given where the Foxes were when he left and - you are right - how they were still more competitive under him.
The players like the clarity and honesty Van Nistelrooy has brought, they respect that, and assistant Brian Barry-Murphy has also impressed the squad with his coaching methods and how clear he makes things.
That said, they can enjoy the sessions at Seagrave as much as they want but if they are losing every week it does not carry much weight.
Players are human - often forgotten - so confidence and momentum will play a part. You can see the confidence drain as soon as they go behind and the goal drought at the King Power will become a psychological problem soon, if it has not already.
There is sympathy for Van Nistelrooy at Seagrave and the fact he hasn't come under the scrutiny many would expect shows the expectations. There is also an understanding he was unable to add significant quality to the squad in January.
Colin asked: What is the single most important thing that Leicester City need to accomplish in order to bring back the fans' pride in the club?
Nick: The communication has to improve. Supporters cannot get behind a club or a project - even though I dislike describing it like that - without understanding the direction of travel and what the club wants to achieve - and why.
Fans want to feel part of their club, understandably, but it has almost felt like and us v them situation when it comes to the relationship with the board.
If there is dialogue about why certain decisions are taken - or, almost more importantly, why they were not taken - then supporters can understand and empathise. Without that they cannot buy into what the club wants to do.
I know Susan Whelan and others at the club have met with the Foxes Trust in what was a candid discussion and those lines of communication must continue. Fans feel numb to the team's plight at the moment, mainly because they feel disconnected from the club.
Q&A: Will Foxes fall through the Championship?published at 08:20 21 March
08:20 21 March
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport football news reporter
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BBC Sport's football news reporter Nick Mashiter has been taking your Leicester City questions.
Tom asked: Seeing our club go back to the Championship without laying a glove on anyone is a sad state of affairs. When do we stop blaming the players and start looking at Jon Rudkin and Susan Whelan as being responsible for years of awful management and almost negligent running of our club, particularly around signings, contracts and wages? I do also feel Top is maybe a little naïve, which is understandable given the circumstances surrounding him becoming our owner. Do we need a reset at board level, before getting rid of 70% of the squad which is going to struggle in the Championship next season?
Nick: The focus has been on Jon Rudkin for a while now and, therefore, Susan Whelan will be in the spotlight too.
It is extremely rare a manager loses 13 out of 14 games and there are no calls for their head, it all appears to be directed towards the hierarchy. Supporters acknowledge the problems pre-date Ruud van Nistelrooy, even if there has been no improvement under him.
As Van Nistelrooy watched the defeat at Brentford in November, before taking control, he listened to the calls for Rudkin to go from the away fans and there has been plenty of dissent towards him since.
The banner against Manchester United on Sunday - 'from dogs of war to doggy daycare' was clearly directed at the board.
Rudkin and Whelan oversaw the title win, the Champions League and Europa Conference League runs, the FA Cup triumph and two fifth placed finishes - the most successful era in the club's history - so they have pedigree.
Yet, if relegation - which looks inevitable - comes then someone needs to take responsibility as the legacy of the previous era has been wasted.
It is important to remember, though, Leicester are not the only side at the bottom who have been unable to bridge the gap and that is a wider problem for the Premier League.
Dave: I have genuine concerns that when our relegation is confirmed and our best assets are stripped, we might do a Luton or Derby and drop straight to League One. Do you think we will be able to rebuild enough to stay in the Championship, bearing in mind the EFL are gunning for us?
Nick: The Championship is a competitive and fascinating league but because it is an average one.
We have seen in the last two years in particular the top four have been streets ahead of the rest of the division. It's a discussion for another time but speaking to those in the division they recognise the quality has dropped - Brexit (denying clubs a pool of players who can no longer qualify for work permits), financial concerns and Premier League clubs hoarding players being some of the reasons.
Leicester will remain attractive for players at that level - but that is without the threat of punishment from the EFL or knowing what they have to spend in the summer.
Too much is unknown ahead of next season. Will Van Nistelrooy still be here? Will there be a change at board level? Which players will leave? So we would be second-guessing exactly how it will go but I would still be surprised to see them struggle like Luton.
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