‘They’re All Big Games’ - Van Nistelrooy Ahead Of Man City Bout

Next Match | Friday 24 April Fri 24 Apr

MIL

(H)

01 D

23 H

26 M

39 S

Interviews & Features

Heritage

Photos

‘They’re All Big Games’ - Van Nistelrooy Ahead Of Man City Bout

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Leicester City must look at all of their fixtures as vital towards achieving the aim of staying in the Premier League.

2024-12-29T07:00+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

29 Dec, 2024

‘They’re All Big Games’ - Van Nistelrooy Ahead Of Man City Bout

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Leicester City must look at all of their fixtures as vital towards achieving the aim of staying in the Premier League.

Sam Jones

2024-12-29T07:00+00:00

‘They’re All Big Games’ - Van Nistelrooy Ahead Of Man City Bout

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Leicester City must look at all of their fixtures as vital towards achieving the aim of staying in the Premier League.

Sam Jones

2024-12-29T07:00+00:00

‘They’re All Big Games’ - Van Nistelrooy Ahead Of Man City Bout

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Leicester City must look at all of their fixtures as vital towards achieving the aim of staying in the Premier League.

Sam Jones

2024-12-29T07:00+00:00

‘They’re All Big Games’ - Van Nistelrooy Ahead Of Man City Bout

Ruud van Nistelrooy says Leicester City must look at all of their fixtures as vital towards achieving the aim of staying in the Premier League.

Sam Jones

2024-12-29T07:00+00:00

Reaching the halfway point in the season following the conclusion of Sunday’s visit of Manchester City, a 2:30pm GMT kick-off, the Foxes have a fight on their hands to maintain their top-flight status, slipping into the bottom three for the first time this week.

Speaking to the media prior to the Citizens arriving on Filbert Way, Leicester’s Manager shared his thoughts on their next opponents, the importance of home advantage and the takeaways from a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool on Boxing Day.

‘Improve and perform’

Saluting the travelling support at Anfield.

Assessing the current situation, the Dutchman knows that they can ill afford to only focus on fixtures against sides in and around them in the table, with points on offer in every match, as they get set to face off against the current league champions.

“For us, all the 20/21 games that we are playing are massive,” he stated. “We know that a certain number of points are necessary to stay in [this league] and every second of every game is big for us. That’s the Premier League.

“That is for all the teams, whether it’s to win it, to be in the Champions League, be in Europe and also those in the relegation zone. It’s something that is constant - to improve, to perform and get results.

“It’s from game to game. Like against Liverpool, we close the game, we evaluate the game and make a game plan to get a result on Sunday against Man City. That’s the job that we do.”

‘We have to be spot on’

A testing period for the Spaniard.

Pep Guardiola’s side have recently endured a difficult patch of form of their own, winning just one of their last 13 matches to slip to seventh; a 1-1 draw at home to Everton the latest disappointment for the Citizens.

Despite this, the undoubted quality they possess make them a dangerous opponent to encounter, van Nistelrooy believes, calling upon the Blue Army to continue their steadfast support for the team when they return to King Power Stadium this weekend.

The former PSV manager added: “Everybody knows, and when you look at the team that played [against Everton] and how they played, because I saw the game and saw the previous games as well, I know the quality of that squad, that team, that manager.

“I’m focusing on that and the quality that we will face. We have to prepare to make a great performance on our side. Being Leicester, in the moment where we are, we have to be spot on in all the parts of football to get a result.

“The quality that we are facing and the dominance of Liverpool and Manchester City in games, possession-wise and how the game will go and what we have to do well, I think there’s a link between the Liverpool game and Sunday.

“But, of course, playing at home can have a different approach as well, instead of playing at Anfield. The connection (with the supporters) is so important. The fans supported us right through the [Liverpool] game and after the game when we all went over and thanked them for coming and us for the performance.

“It’s something to build on and take into Sunday because we’ll need them hard on Sunday.”

‘A short turnaround’

The England midfielder made his return to the starting XI at Anfield.

Also offering insight into his squad’s fitness ahead of the game, the Dutchman provided an update on several of the players to miss out at Anfield. They will all be assessed further prior to the weekend, while Harry Winks, who made his first start in over a month following a groin injury, had his minutes managed in view of Sunday’s fixture.

“Jamie Vardy is one of those,” van Nistelrooy explained. “He has a good chance, hopefully he can make it. Wout Faes is doubtful. [Mads] Hermansen, as I said before, is going to need a little longer to recover.

“There are no updates [on Wilfred Ndidi or Kasey McAteer]. They are not involved in team training, so they are not available for Sunday.

“We know Harry, you all know Harry. He’s a great midfield player, very creative, makes us play, knows the Premier League and what we need to get results. He was very positive [against Liverpool] because we had to defend a lot but he did a great job in there as well.

“Although he’s more famous for his footballing skills on the ball, I think on and off the ball he is doing great. He is helping the team and of course after 60 minutes, we had to be looking after him, because it’s a short turnaround to Sunday to get him fresh and fit for that.”

LATEST HEADLINES

Chairman Statement: Leicester City Relegated To League One Following confirmation of Leicester City’s relegation to League One, Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has issued the following statement:

21 Hours 33 Mins Ago

Foxes Relegated To League One After Hull Draw We have been relegated to Sky Bet League One following Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Hull City at King Power Stadium.

22 Hours 23 Mins Ago

Team News: Leicester City vs. Hull City Gary Rowett has named his Leicester City side for tonight's encounter with Hull City in the Sky Bet Championship.

21 Apr, 2026

Fan Zone Open Ahead Of Millwall Game Our Fan Zone will be open on Friday night ahead of our Sky Bet Championship fixture against Millwall at King Power Stadium.

21 Apr, 2026

LATEST PHOTOS

Leicester City 2 Hull City 2

22 Hours 33 Mins Ago

Hull Preparations In Seagrave A look at Monday's training session at LCFC Training Ground as our encounter with Hull City nears.

20 Apr, 2026

Portsmouth 1 Leicester City 0 Match imagery from our Sky Bet Championship clash with Pompey on the South Coast.

18 Apr, 2026

City's Pompey Preparations In Focus Imagery from Seagrave as the Foxes prepare for the trip to Portsmouth in the Sky Bet Championship this weekend.

16 Apr, 2026