Leicester City

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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."

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

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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.

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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: 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

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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."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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.

Find more from Chris Forryan at Leicester Till I Die, external

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.

• Not a Leicester fan? Find and follow your team here

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.

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.

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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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper says Ruud van Nistelrooy's side looked "so shot of confidence" in their 3-0 defeat by Manchester United, as the Foxes recorded their 13th loss in their past 14 games.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast, Piper said: "When you're losing all of these games, the confidence goes. You just feel like you can't buy a win and you are never going to win again.

"When you start feeling like that, you start making decisions that you would never normally make as a player that is confident in their ability and in their team-mates' ability.

"I think we saw that a number of times against Manchester United. For the first goal Wout Faes - an international defender - was defending like a six-year-old.

"The reason why I use that terminology is because when you're teaching a six-year-old how to play football, and defend in particular, that is what a six-year-old would do without any coaching.

"They would sort of just keep running back towards their own goal, let the opposition player just run through, and let them shoot cleanly into the corner. It is a decision made through a huge lack of confidence.

"Earlier this season, we were saying that Faes was making mistakes and walking around with his chest out and shoulders up, so we were thinking it was arrogance - but I don't think that anymore.

"The other player I would pick out is Patson Daka. When he tried that turn in the first half, I have never ever seen something like that.

"I'm not trying to put the kid down, but you only do that when you have zero confidence left. It was also shown in some of his finishing against Manchester United."

Piper said he has adopted a new outlook on Leicester's recent performances, adding: "I'm not angry when I watch these performances anymore because I'm watching a group that has a huge lack of quality and are so devoid of confidence it is untrue.

"I would even say that about the manager - I don't think he knows what to do. I was also looking over to where the board sit and people were sitting there with embarrassed looks on their faces."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

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A day that ends in 'Y'. A night that follows day. A score line that includes 'Leicester City - Nil'.

Since our last home goal on 8 December, the aggregate score line across those seven home matches that followed is an astounding 0-18! We are setting unenviable records and the bumpy ride we have experienced since being back in the top division has now led to the wheels well and truly coming off.

We haven't witnessed a goal at home in over 100 days and have only scored nine times in Ruud van Nistelrooy's tenure of 16 league games, with just four in the last 14.

Van Nistelrooy has tried a change in formation in the last two matches and while Patson Daka has been brought in to assist Jamie Vardy, he was played more as a winger, so the 'two up top' was a red herring that served only to hamper us further.

Even with 10 minutes to go and 3-0 down at home against Manchester United, we were still playing with five at the back with only like-for like substitutes made. Ruud has confirmed on separate occasions that we don't have the quality to compete at this level, but the real question is: does he?

Following Steve Cooper's sacking, our next appointment was crucial and had to be approached with care and diligence. The demands of a relegation scrap are not for the faint hearted nor inexperienced and Ruud appears totally out of his depth.

It would be a dramatic roll of the dice if we were to change managers again this season, but for the sake of a summer rebuild and the need for a safe pair of hands, I do think this option has to be firmly on the table.

To have not scored in the league since 26 January is enough to concede defeat and accept that we got it wrong (again) and relegation is upon us. But I would like us to score again this season – is that too much to ask?

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

After seven straight defeats at the King Power without scoring and 13 defeats out of 14 overall, things are looking pretty dismal for Leicester. Where do they go from here?

We are giving you the opportunity to ask BBC Sport football news reporter Nick Mashiter your Leicester questions and we'll put a selection to him later this week.

Submit them here

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Leicester fans are numb to their struggles now.

At the final whistle of Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester Untied, The King Power Stadium was barely a third full. Those who remained could hardly muster a jeer.

A new top flight record - not just in the Premier League - of seven straight home defeats without scoring, added to their wretched run of losing 13 of their last 14 games.

The banner 'from dogs of war to doggy daycare' showed the dissent towards the Foxes' board. It was a snappy flag and has a point but it was all too fleeting, with the fanbase resigned to their fate.

An immediate return to the Championship is now growing ever closer with Ruud Van Nistelrooy's side nine points from safety with nine games left.

A repeat of their great escape in 2015, which paved the way for the stunning title success a year later, is highly unlikely.

Ultimately, the squad is not good enough. They are worse than the squad relegated in 2023.

The financial constraints meant Van Nistelrooy was unable to spend sufficiently - only bringing in defender Woyo Coulibaly from Parma for around £3m in January.

It has meant - despite all the squad's respect for the manager's honesty and clarity at the training ground - he has lost 14 of his 18 games since replacing Steve Cooper in November.

The case for Leicester is bleak and the Championship beckons.

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Leicester and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Leicester fans

Nicholas: Lacklustre performance from Leicester - from a team who know they are relegated. I fear for us next season - we could go into freefall. Time to reset and build another team.

Stuart: Just so poor. Disjointed and devoid of any hope. Heads down and a lack of effort as soon as the first goal goes in. The club is now so poorly run, a wholesale clear out is required in the summer and not just from the playing staff either. I'm just so disillusioned by how bad we've been this season.

James: Where do we go from here? The fans' emotions have transitioned from anger and frustration, to apathy and acceptance of their club's fate. The inexperienced manager does not know his best starting XI and has seemingly admitted defeat. The majority of players are mentally broken and don't even applaud the fans at the end anymore. This is a depressing spiral into the Championship. Maybe getting relegated sooner rather than later would be merciful on all of us. Doomed.

Manchester United fans

Mike: I was one of those criticising Amorim a few weeks ago but to give him credit, this team do look like they're finally clicking. Heaven's injury is a massive blow as he looks like a real promising youngster. Hope it's not as bad as it looks.

Jed: A bit of a better performance but still slow getting the ball forward. At least Rasmus did get some service.

Johnny Joe: A perfect away day performance. Slowly but surely blocks of success are being laid one on top of the other. Captain Bruno makes a mockery of those who still question his commitment and quality again.

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

Former Foxes players Matty Fryatt and Matt Piper discuss Sunday's defeat against Manchester United.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Ipswich Town 2-4 Nottingham Forest

• AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Brentford

• Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

• Fulham 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

• Leicester City 0-3 Manchester United

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Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, speaking to BBC MOTD: "In the end you lose so it's disappointing. Of course, the effort put in and the chances created it is all there.

"Dealing with both boxes is always the challenge at this level. The efficiency was very high on United's side.

"We were unlucky that we didn't score.

"It didn't go the right way for us, then the game changes. The momentum turned, but we kept going and kept playing and bringing many attackers on the pitch.

"We wanted to be positive, we put United under pressure."

On Man Utd's goals: "I think if Wout Faes can come across to block Hojlund going to the keeper it would have been better. The second one falls for Garnacho, falls in front of his feet and he doesn't think twice."

On the relegation battle: "If you look at all the data and numbers of the game it was very even. Putting the ball in the back of the net will get you points.

"We can't and we won't give up - we will fight till the end.

"As I said mathematically until it's impossible, we keep going. We want to show that we can score goals, that we can get a clean sheet at this level and pick up points."

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With tonight's 3-0 defeat, Leicester became the first team in English top-flight history to lose seven consecutive home games while failing to score.