Leicester City

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Abdul Fatawu is "a doubt" because of a "groin issue". The winger was "not available" to face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and the club is still waiting for a scan to determine his availability.

• Victor Kristiansen is available after training on Thursday, Patson Daka is also back in training and Jannik Vestergaard came through the cup defeat without any problems. Michael Golding is back training with the squad after a spell out.

• Cooper is waiting for "confirmation" about whether he will be allowed on the touchline for Saturday's game, after being booked at Old Trafford: "It is fairly common now so we will take it as it comes. It probably highlights the decision-making of the referees [in the game]. That is why these things happen, but we'll deal with it as it comes."

• There are "no problems" with the quick turnaround from the cup game on Wednesday: "We have got to thrive off these little challenges. I don't see it as a disadvantage. It's a good chance to show we can adapt to anything that comes our way."

• On whether he will make changes to his midweek starting XI: "We will see. You pick a team that you think is the best fit to win you the game. That doesn't necessarily mean that if players played last night, they won't play again at the weekend. Just because we went one way last night doesn't mean we will go a certain way on Saturday."

• The Foxes could move further away from the relegation zone with a win, but he believes every game is "significant", adding: "Whoever you're playing, a win can make such a difference. We have seen that with the two wins we've got already. You have to give everything for the next three points. We want to get our third win and there is a big determination to do that."

• Ipswich have been on a "constant rise for the last couple of years" and Cooper doesn't believe people should underestimate Kieran McKenna's side: "I don't think we should assume where people should be in the league. It's more about understanding who you are playing against, respecting them and knowing that you have to earn your right to win any game."

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

The bottom six teams in the Premier League all play one another on Saturday and with the way the season has gone so far, those fixtures are going to be big.

Winning these games and earning three points could at the end of the season be called the six-pointers.

When I played for Reading and we were fighting down the bottom of the league, these are the fixtures that we looked for because they are must-win games.

I am not sure Crystal Palace would have targeted these at the start of the season because they would have expected to have been higher in the league, but the newly promoted teams will have.

Wolves probably need the win the most because they wouldn't have expected to be second from bottom after nine games and they need to start picking up results.

It is a little bit more difficult for the promoted teams because they are still trying to adapt to the Premier League.

I don't think these results will necessarily define any team's season - as it so early on - but winning helps to break the rut and sometimes it becomes difficult for teams to know how to win when they aren't.

For all of these teams something has to adapt at some stage. You have to find a way to win a game, even if it is scruffy, and especially against those teams that are in and around you.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Image source, Times/Mirror

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

Here are some of your comments:

United fans

Edward: Great game! I thought the sacking of Erik ten Hag would affect the team and they'd play miserably again. Van Nistelrooy‘s style was great, even if it is for a short burst. There's lots of confidence added back to the squad and fans!

Spencer: You could have predicted this result after the departure of Erik. As a United fan we have witnessed this happen so many times after a manager's sacking. I question how this team can turn it on when they feel like it. Of course it was an enjoyable performance, but the cracks were still present. Let’s not get carried away, Amorim has a big job on his hands.

Rowan: Great performance all round, with Casemiro and Bruno showing how good they truly are with the right guidance and energy from the sidelines, albeit against Leicester's 'B-team'. The passing and flair we displayed is something that was sorely missed throughout Ten Hag's campaign. Hope Van Nistelrooy or Amorim recognise we play best when we play faster on the turn.

Toby: Ruud has done a good job to start with. For me, Casemiro was outstanding, a fantastic performance from him. It is a shame that Ruud is not in charge for the whole season.

Leicester fans

Eddie: A strange team selection after the manager said he wants a cup run! No continuity. I understand the squad rotation system, but come on nobody seems to know what formation we are playing. Defence is non-existent at times, midfield is weak and there's no consistent goal threat. This has to change and quickly!!

Jaian: It was clear from the line-up that Steve had an eye on the six pointer this weekend against Ipswich. However, defensively Leicester have been poor again. It seems to be a reoccurring and worrying trend, which needs to be resolved before they end up in a relegation battle. On a positive note, It was great to see Will Alves come off the bench!

Paul: Unfortunately the inexperience of the City team showed through again. United were motivated to impress their new manager, but City while trying hard were easily outclassed. It's going to be a long, tough season. I just hope there are funds to bring more experience into the team in January.

Trev: Cooper is not the man for Leicester. His record shows his teams struggle to survive relegation. His results and performances say the same. Leicester need a manager who wants to win, not just survive.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester boss Steve Cooper, speaking to the media about Alejandro Garnacho's goal against them in defeat by Manchester United: "Maybe there's a bit of sympathy for the linesman.

"He's a Premier League linesman and he's used to the protection of VAR.

"But he can't make a mistake like that. It was a big moment in the game. We score soon after and it should be 1-1. It's 2-1. The referee's enjoyed giving me a yellow card as well.

"He looked like he had a good time tonight. That was that. But I want to stand up for my team. You can't just see an image on the bench and just accept it."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on United's performance, external

What did you make of Leicester's display?, external

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

The Carabao Cup quarter-final line-up will be completed on Wednesday, with the six remaining fourth-round ties being played.

• Brighton v Liverpool (19:30)

• Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

• Man Utd v Leicester

• Newcastle v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Preston v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Man City (20:15) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Kick-off times 19:45 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction

Image source, PA Media

As Leicester City prepare to travel to Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup, The Times' football reporter Charlotte Duncker believes the fixture will be a "fresh start" for Manchester United under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Duncker expects there to be a reaction from United on Wednesday, in their first game since Erik ten Hag's sacking.

"Having watched and covered them, it hadn't looked like the players had necessarily downed tools whilst Erik ten Hag was in charge," she told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast. "It just looked like something wasn't working.

"One of the important things to note is Ruud van Nistelrooy has been at the club throughout the whole of this season. He has already been involved in tactical decisions and game planning, so I wouldn't expect to see a drastically different side.

"But there is always the cliche of the 'new manager bounce'. I do fear for Leicester City because, if Ten Hag was still in charge, maybe it would have been a slightly easier game for them.

"The players have been feeling the pressure but maybe now that will be relieved because the circumstances have changed: Erik ten Hag has gone and this is a fresh start for a lot of them.

"For example, Marcus Rashford has looked a shadow of his former self in the last few games. He just can't get a shot on target, but it is whether he is going to thrive under Ruud van Nistelrooy as his manager instead of as his coach.

"It is hard to see how there could be a drastic upturn but there is normally that 'new manager bounce' - which I know isn't what Leicester City fans are going to want to hear."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Steve Cooper has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup game against Manchester United (kick-off 19:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Jannik Vestergaard will be available for selection after recovering from "a bit of a setback" with his ankle injury.

• Viktor Kristiansen's groin injury is "not as bad as thought". Cooper said: "At least it will be a matter of days or weeks, as opposed to longer than that."

• He did not rule out making changes to his team because the Foxes have two away games this week: "We have another game at Ipswich on Saturday. It is times like this where it is good to have a squad. We will need to utilise it over the week." He added that "full focus" is on taking "one game at a time".

• On Erik ten Hag's sacking: "You always applaud managers when they do well and feel sorry for them when there is criticism or they lose their job - that's how I feel about Erik. It is never nice to see. I wish him well and I'm sure he will bounce back as and when he feels ready."

• Manchester United's managerial situation will not change his game plan: "We won't overthink it. If you do, you can end up going loads of places that might be miles away from what it ends up being. It is a really good chance to show how good your own work is. There is even more reason to focus on ourselves. We have got to make sure we take that opportunity."

• He recognises their opponents have "real quality" all over the pitch: "They have got players that can really change moments from nothing to something, whether it be through their athleticism or talent. We get that in every game we play in the Premier League, but it is an away game so that can influence it as well."

• The squad is continuing to adapt to the "tweaks and ideas" he has implemented since taking charge: "We just want to become a really strong and competitive Premier League team. That comes with time and delivering when it counts. You have to be seen to be making progress, even when the results aren't what you want. We will have more good days than bad days when we get our identity and our way right."

• He would "love" for his team to have a "really good cup run" because there are "so many good things to be gained" from being involved in one: "It is what we all want. If we can do it, then we can get even more excited. You have to plan to win every single game. We back ourselves."

Follow all of Tuesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The game on Friday, under the lights and a spicy derby fixture - Leicester fans knew it was going to be tough against an in-form Nottingham Forest team, but there was some confidence that we could maybe make it three wins from three.

The starting XI was met with elation. Abdul Fatawu was starting along with fan favourite Ricardo Pereira. Finally! Victor Kristiansen was injured, but regardless of circumstance, we have all wanted Pereira to feature much earlier this season.

What transpired in an exciting first half, however, was a sloppiness seen too regularly this season.

Man of the hour Facundo Buonanotte showed some naivety on the edge of his own box, trying to dribble out when all that was needed was a simple hoof upfield. Goal one.

A poor pass from Harry Winks to a stationary Fatawu saw possession lost, which led to an excellent back-to-goal finish from Chris Wood. Goal two.

Goal three (I am even cringing as I type this) was a defensive disaster. A hopeful ball over the top caused chaos between the two centre-backs and Wout Faes headed it directly into the path of Wood for him to nod home. A calamity. Basics of defending - never let it bounce.

Cooper gave fans the team they wanted on Friday, but the frequency of individual errors meant that any hope of successful execution was lost, and I do not think Cooper should be hauled over the coals for that.

That said, he could have tweaked the formation, forced the wingers wide against Forest's narrow defence and kept Pereira as a traditional right-back rather than inverting in possession, which left us exposed with regular, quick turnovers.

If the players cannot do the basics right, then you become the reason for your own downfalls. Do the simple things well and greater things will follow.

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

Image source, Getty Images

Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper was left feeling "absolutely gutted" after the Foxes loss to Nottingham Forest and called on boss Steve Cooper to select a captain who will "get after players" on the pitch moving forward.

Speaking on the When You're Smiling podcast, Piper said: "I look at Conor Coady sat on the bench and, when things are all going wrong, you need someone to really get after players on the pitch.

"I didn't see that in the second-half of this game. It does come down to having a leader with that steel.

"If someone hasn't tracked a run or it looks a bit lacklustre - and you are looking at it and feel like the players are still in the changing room - you need to tell them!

"Get after them and wake them up - because this is the Premier League and it is unforgiving.

"I'm just looking at the characters out there on the pitch and it is all a bit too nice. [Jamie] Vards - the legend that he is - was captain, but he is very nice to his team-mates. If you are one of his team-mates then you love him for it, but he isn't a character that is going to make you fearful for your life.

"When things aren't going quite right, Forest are in their ascendency and someone hasn't tracked a run or there is comedic-value defending going on, you need someone to come in with language that I can't say on the radio and that conviction to say: 'Wake up!'

"I didn't see that. It felt like the players were still in the changing room and they hadn't started that second-half.

"They are quite a young side though, so is it a lack of leadership or is it the need for someone to be the nasty guy and get after players? It just lacked something for me."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester boss Steve Cooper has paid tribute to former Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

It is six years since the chairman died when his helicopter crashed as it left the King Power Stadium, following a 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare - and pilots and partners Eric Swaffer and Izabela Roza Lechowicz - also died in the accident.

Under Khun Vichai, who bought the club in 2011, the Foxes stunned the game by winning the Premier League in 2016 for one of the greatest sporting achievements, having started the season as 5,000-1 outsiders.

They went on to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League the following season and under his son and successor, Aiyawatt, Leicester City won the FA Cup for the first time in 2021.

Cooper said: "Even if you don't go looking for it, you find it here [at the training ground] and at the stadium. It is a legacy isn't it - a very much on-going legacy.

"You cannot avoid it because it is everywhere. You can see why this club has achieved what it has - the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League.

"It also goes beyond that with some of the feelings and emotions. I can see that because of the way they make you feel, you want to do so well for them.

"They lead through support, encouragement and good will. There is expectation, of course, aswell - so it is not a soft leadership.

"There are other aspects to the fabric of a football club and the ownership is a huge one here. I take that really personally in how I represent that."

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 1-1 Bournemouth

• Everton 1-1 Fulham

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Neil: A decent first-half performance against a good Forest team. However, the second half showed Leicester's main problem this season: not being able to play well for 90 minutes. Terrible defending for all three goals conceded, but the second-half performance was awful overall. Forest deserved all three points.

Ray: Disgusted! Do they not understand how important a local derby is to the people who pay their wages? This game confirmed to me that Justin, Faes and Ayew are not good enough for this league, or indeed club, and several more are on the cusp. Get them gone in January! I suggest the defenders all have a cold shower prior to the kick-off so they are at least awake for the match.

Dave: Steve Cooper, focus on the defence - otherwise you'll end up like Rodgers did! Defensively, we need stability. The minute Vestergaard is fit, keep playing the three Danish internationals at the back. They know each other well and Victor compensates for Jannik's lack of pace. Mads is in a class of his own.

Ben: We played decently. Hermansen saving us again but we gifted them all of their goals, which is annoying. I have lost all confidence in our defence. We need to be playing Coady and Okoli at the back.

John: The defending was Sunday League standard. You cannot survive at this level being as open as that. Why Coady isn't in the team I have no idea. Faes is an accident waiting to happen. A very poor second half. This result makes Ipswich away even more important. City are in a five-team league and they need to finish top.

The latest When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

BBC Radio Leicester's Jack Rafferty is joined by former Leicester City winger Matt Piper at King Power Stadium to mull over the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Hear from Foxes boss Steve Cooper on the "self-inflicted" result and get the thoughts of the fans who were at the game.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Leicester’s performance, external

What did you make of Nottingham Forest’s display?, external

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

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Cooper faces Nottingham Forest for the first time since he left almost a year ago and he cannot escape the talk about his past.

The 44-year-old was hesitant to discuss his time at the City Ground, which ended with the sack last December, at his news conference on Wednesday.

It was an understandable move as he looks to endear himself to the Leicester fans but it is impossible to airbrush history.

Cooper's spell at Nottingham Forest cannot go down as anything but a success given he guided them back to the Premier League after 23 years and kept them there.

That should be acknowledged - and few would have begrudged him doing so.

The manager is nothing but respectful and it is clear why he opted to give the questions about Forest - and any comparisons with his current ownership - a swerve.

Despite back-to-back wins against Bournemouth and Southampton, Cooper feels he still needs to win the trust of some Foxes fans.

Victory against his old side tonight would go a long way to doing that.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy says Steve Cooper has added his own layers to the success the Foxes had last season.

Vardy has three goals in eight league matches under the Welsh manager, already matching the tally he managed in the whole of his last Premier League campaign (2022-23)

"It’s been great [under Cooper]," Vardy told the club website. "He’s got his own ideas, he’s wanted to keep some bits from last year with how successful we were and he’s just added layers on to what we could do.

"That’s what we’ve been doing, working on the training field and trying to implement that when it comes to games. He’s working with us every single day so he can see what everyone’s capable of and tell us what he wants from us."

The Foxes will be looking for their third win in a row against local rivals Nottingham Forest on Friday, a team which Cooper managed until 2023.

"These are the games that bring out the extra spice, but what we need to realise is that it’s just another game," added Leicester's number nine. "There’s no point letting all the hype around it get to you.

"We know it’s going to be tough. We want to win, they want to win, so we’ll see what happens on Friday. They’ve started really well, but it’s the Premier League, one of the best leagues in the world, and it’s so competitive.

"It doesn’t matter who you’re playing one week to the next - anyone can beat anyone on their day."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Leicester City defender Liam Moore believes Steve Cooper's approach to management will put the Foxes in a "good position to have a strong season", and likened the Welsh boss to Premier League winning manager Claudio Ranieri.

Speaking on the latest When You're Smiling podcast, Moore said: "I really do enjoy some of the quotes that he comes up with in his press conferences.

"Claudio Ranieri is Claudio Ranieri - look at what he went on to do at this club - but Steve Cooper's approach is very similar, in terms of that sole focus on small goals. It is about taking each game as it comes and reassessing after that.

"I think that [way of thinking] puts you in a good position to have a strong season. They are taking one game at a time, letting the noise come from the outside, and then from the inside, it is just about building that process."

The Leicester City academy graduate added that he is hoping it will be "the perfect Friday night under the lights" for Steve Cooper's side against Nottingham Forest.

"This is an absolutely amazing game," Moore said. "This is a game that obviously means a lot to the city.

"You want to see your team go out there and really go for it, but I'm not so sure that is the tactic we're going to see. I think it might be cagey early on, with that rivalry atmosphere in the stands and on the pitch.

"I do think that when you let the players go, like they did in the second half against Southampton, it will get the fans on their feet and get the atmosphere absolutely rocking. I'm looking forward to seeing a positive performance."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds