Prepare To The Maximum, Says Van Nistelrooy

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Prepare To The Maximum, Says Van Nistelrooy

There will be no let-up in Leicester City’s work as we get set to face Everton this weekend, according to Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

2025-02-01T07:00+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

01 Feb, 2025

Prepare To The Maximum, Says Van Nistelrooy

There will be no let-up in Leicester City’s work as we get set to face Everton this weekend, according to Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Sam Jones

2025-02-01T07:00+00:00

Prepare To The Maximum, Says Van Nistelrooy

There will be no let-up in Leicester City’s work as we get set to face Everton this weekend, according to Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Sam Jones

2025-02-01T07:00+00:00

Prepare To The Maximum, Says Van Nistelrooy

There will be no let-up in Leicester City’s work as we get set to face Everton this weekend, according to Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Sam Jones

2025-02-01T07:00+00:00

Prepare To The Maximum, Says Van Nistelrooy

There will be no let-up in Leicester City’s work as we get set to face Everton this weekend, according to Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Sam Jones

2025-02-01T07:00+00:00

Our final Premier League visit to Goodison Park arrives on Saturday (3pm GMT kick-off) and the Foxes head into it fresh from a crucial victory over Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

Now facing a side one place above City in the current standings, there is plenty to play for on Merseyside and several talking points to discuss in Thursday’s pre-match press conference…

‘A foundation to build’

Success at Spurs.

At the helm for just over two months now, van Nistelrooy reflected on the progression he has overseen within the team during that period, looking to build on the momentum of securing a first league win in nine attempts.

“I don’t feel a difference in the intensity in training after the win,” the Dutchman revealed to the assembled media earlier this week. “We’ve been training in a way that demands those standards are always there. We’ve showed some very good performances.

“In that sense, we’re stable and good, and rightly so because the next week starts and we’re starting to prepare ourselves again to the maximum. Training is always in that way. Of course, three points away from home is big for us with where we are in the league.

“You can say, with the run of form also, it was important to get a win and to get three extra points was big. Results and performances have been talked about a lot and rightly so.

“I think against Spurs, what you saw was a very organised team that defended well and was very compact. And on the ball, we showed what we can do. Away from home, against a team like them, it was very good to see and the two goals away were good.

“We’ve been speaking about creating chances and sometimes not converting them, but we were very efficient against Spurs. We’re in the middle of that progression; we’re in the middle of that development.

“One other thing was our defensive shape and the way we worked together to stop Tottenham playing. On that foundation, we built on the result and we were capable of scoring our goals to make the difference. That’s the foundation to build on.

“The momentum is when you can celebrate a deserved win away from home and the three points that we can add to our total, which is the energy and the confidence that you need and that momentum we want to keep going.”

‘New ideas coming in’

Goodison became a happy hunting ground for van Nistelrooy as a player.

Holding fond memories of Goodison Park from his playing days, scoring five times in five visits, van Nistelrooy is aware of the impact the venue can have, as well as the boost David Moyes has brought since his reappointment as Toffees manager, winning two of his opening three games.

The 48-year-old explained: “It’s a classic in English football. If you want to show a person from abroad what an English football stadium and atmosphere is like, that’s one I would show them. The old stands, the character and how close it is to the pitch – there’s lots of history and it’s typical for a Premier League team.

“I know what it’s like to play there but I also know that in every away game in the Premier League you are going to face circumstances where the crowd is a factor. With the experience we have in our team, we are able to handle that.

“Performing in those circumstances is the challenge away from home. We know what Everton is capable of and the results they have been getting under the new manager. They have found their way up. It’s something which gave them momentum and what we have to be prepared for.

“You take into the account the current run that they’re on and the new ideas coming in. You evaluate how the team played before and now under David. That’s how you build your gameplan and prepare for the match.”

'An important player'

Praise for both El Khannouss and Soumaré.

Bilal El Khannouss’ performance levels in recent weeks have impressed van Nistelrooy, who analysed how he has developed into a key player for the Foxes, delivering six goals contributions – all of those coming since the arrival of the new Manager.

“He’s playing and starting every game and an important player for us with his creativity and his work rate off the ball,” the former PSV manager explained. “With his desire for a final pass and getting possession going, getting us out of situations in possession, he can also be creative with assists and goals.

“He’s been working a lot on his shooting and I’m happy with his development and I think you’re going to see a lot more of him with his age and profile. With his work rate in training, he’s improving on a daily basis.

“The challenge for him is, at his young age, pushing himself to finally know where his ceiling is. His potential is there to be a top player in Europe in the Champions League, I think that’s where his potential is.

“But as I said, it’s important for him to work how he is on a daily basis and that he is consistent in that, because he can go a long way. When I look at the midfield, Boubakary Soumaré is making excellent development together with Bilal and is also improving very quickly.”

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