Van Nistelrooy ‘Proud’ Of Battling Foxes

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Van Nistelrooy ‘Proud’ Of Battling Foxes

Ruud van Nistelrooy talked of his pride in the team after coming from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

2025-04-13T09:00+01:00

by Sam Jones

Published

13 Apr, 2025

Van Nistelrooy ‘Proud’ Of Battling Foxes

Ruud van Nistelrooy talked of his pride in the team after coming from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sam Jones

2025-04-13T09:00+01:00

Van Nistelrooy ‘Proud’ Of Battling Foxes

Ruud van Nistelrooy talked of his pride in the team after coming from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sam Jones

2025-04-13T09:00+01:00

Van Nistelrooy ‘Proud’ Of Battling Foxes

Ruud van Nistelrooy talked of his pride in the team after coming from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sam Jones

2025-04-13T09:00+01:00

Van Nistelrooy ‘Proud’ Of Battling Foxes

Ruud van Nistelrooy talked of his pride in the team after coming from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Sam Jones

2025-04-13T09:00+01:00

Leicester City drew 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion
Stephy Mavididi and Caleb Okoli scored for the Foxes
Ruud van Nistelrooy was pleased with the improved performance
It’s a first point since January but City remain 19th

An improved performance level led to earning a well-deserved point on the South Coast, despite two Joao Pedro penalties – both given by VAR - seeing Brighton go ahead in each half, prior to Stephy Mavididi and Caleb Okoli coming up with the equalisers.

Leicester remain 19th in the Premier League table, 14 points from safety, but there was much more positivity on the pitch than in previous weeks, with van Nistelrooy’s side showing character to fight back on two occasions.

“Of course I’m pleased for the players,” City’s Manager said post-match. “They put in the energy and the spirit necessary to break the cycle of the run of games that we didn’t score. They did that and it was a good performance. We got a well-deserved point.

“I think in the first half Brighton were better. In the second half, we had the better chances to win the game. We looked strong, we looked fit, we looked motivated to make the fans proud and the spark was well received in the away end. I’m proud of the team.”

Both goals were well taken, with Mavididi’s low strike followed up by Okoli’s first City goal on his return to the XI. Boosting belief within the team, the Foxes had several chances to win it late on, but it wasn’t to be.

“We scored two good goals,” van Nistelrooy reflected. “He (Mavididi) was a threat in the transition moments with his pace and dribbling qualities, like Kasey McAteer on the other wing, as well as the goal that he scored.

“He was unlucky with the deflected shot just past the post for his second. Bilal El Khannouss hit the post for a [potential] winner.

“It was a great header [from Okoli]. His timing was spot on. The delivery from Bilal was excellent and he put it right into the bottom corner. [Marc] Verbruggen didn’t have a chance for that.”

Looking ahead towards the final games, the Dutchman saw plenty of encouraging signs to take into the Liverpool game and beyond, having ended a testing period of losing eight consecutive matches.

“I was hurt with the run of games and the lack of goals because I care,” the 48-year-old added. “I want to get everything out of the players possible and I don’t want the season to die out in a way of losing and negativity.

“The players turned it around today and it’s the responsibility of all of us to carry on like this and with players who want to play for the Club and to fight for this team and Academy players we are having a good look at to give opportunities to as well. That’s the way we try and shape the future.”

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