Leicester City

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Monday's Premier League game at home against Newcastle at King Power Stadium (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Van Nistelrooy confirmed he has no new injuries to contend with after Wednesday's defeat at Manchester City.

• He is happy to have Riccardo Pereira back available: "With the injuries that he's had we are careful with him. He had a hamstring injury after he came back already. Now he's back after only two days training. Monday is soon but he's someone we're very happy is available and can make an impact. But, as a starter, it's quite early."

• On the remainder of the season: "We have to get up. It's my responsibility to do my job the best I can for the last eight games. I don't look further on. It's hard enough to keep the spirits up and everyone together because it's not going well. We are a team and we stick together. If we do that we have a chance of results."

• When asked if the Foxes' financial statement on Wednesday could have impacted the team, Van Nistelrooy said: "I don't see that relation. We are purely focused on the games and it's difficult enough to keep our spirits up in the space we are in. I don't think it was a distraction. Of course, the financial situation of the club is of influence for future strategies."

• On how he is dealing with such a difficult run: "It's something that I feel I want to go through with the team, the squad and the staff. Stay together and stay connected. Fight through this as people. We need to give everything every day to get out of this. It is not something I want to walk away from. I want to fight every day. We will fight until the end."

• On the challenge posed by Newcastle: "It's clear the momentum they are in. First trophy for 50 years so you can imagine what a milestone they achieved and how proud they made the fans. They are part of the history of Newcastle - that is a tremendous boost in confidence and belief."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Manchester City's win over Leicester City in the Premier League.

Here are some of your comments:

Man City fans

Gene: This wasn't much of a match against a team destined for relegation that sat back and seemed to just want the final whistle. Josko Gvardiol looks comfortable on the inside with Ruben Dias and I would've liked to have seen Oscar Bobb earlier. A win is a win, but there should've been more goals against a much weaker opponent.

Brian: Man City got the job done. Yes Leicester are a poor side at present and their mistakes in possession gave City the opportunities to score but City were sharper than in previous games.

John: Good in the first half, but second half lacked the same intensity.

Leicester fans

Michael: We line up like a bunch of coconuts and sit there waiting to be knocked down. No passion, no endeavour, no shots, no ideas and no hope. I love my team but sadly my team does not love the badge it wears. I truly cannot remember a Leicester team in the past 40 years that week after week comes up with spineless clueless performances.

Kerry: Utter dross. No points, no goals, same formation and starting XI. Sorry Ruud, but you've lost the plot completely and you're totally out of your depth. We need a goal so at half time you take a striker off and sub him with a holding midfielder. Patson Daka up front on his own? He's National League quality!

Glenn: Awful display, totally devoid of ideas and the usual mistakes cost us again. We are in freefall and know that we are down - but to go down in such a fashion with not even an ounce of care is unforgivable.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After starting the game at Manchester City as the Leicester captain, Jamie Vardy looked less than impressed as he took his seat at the back of the dugout after being replaced at half-time by midfielder Oliver Skipp.

And the response from Foxes fans on social media to the removal of a striker in favour of a defensive midfielder at 2-0 down was predictably negative.

Yet, like many decisions Ruud van Nistelrooy has made since replacing Steve Cooper as manager part way through the season, it was akin to shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic.

Deep in the second half, it seemed a moral victory when the visitors got numbers into the home side's box and the ball bounced in the six-yard area, but it was easily dealt with.

The nearest Leicester came to ending their wait for a goal came early in the opening period, when they were already behind, as Bilal El Khannouss attempted a curling effort from just outside the penalty area. For a brief moment it looked as though it might go in, but it did not bend enough and drifted wide.

Manchester City have now recorded seven straight league wins against Leicester, so the Foxes do not need to be as bad as they were here for Pep Guardiola's side to beat them.

But while there is over a fifth of the campaign to go and, mathematically, nothing is certain, it is impossible to see how this miserable season can end in anything other than relegation, which could easily be confirmed before April is at an end.

The latest episode of the When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

Former Foxes assistant manager Michael Appleton joins the podcast to rake over Leicester's defeat at Manchester City.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from nine midweek Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-1 Fulham

• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man Utd

• Liverpool 1-0 Everton

• Newcastle 2-1 Brentford

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Man City's performance

What did you make of Leicester's display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

Six matches make up Wednesday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Ipswich

• Brighton v Aston Villa

• Man City v Leicester City

• Newcastle v Brentford - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Southampton v Crystal Palace

• Liverpool v Everton (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 19:45 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

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.

Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester have announced the club accounts for the period ending June 2024, posting a pre-tax loss of £19.4m.

The loss is down compared to the £89.5m to June 2023, reflecting the Foxes' relegation to the Championship.

The Premier League confirmed in January no clubs were in breach of PSR rules.

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."

Listen to Owynn's full explainer of Leicester's finances here

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.

Sutton's prediction: 5-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

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).

Image source, Getty Images

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."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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."

Follow all of Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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: Danny Ward 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.

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.

Let us know here