Van Nistelrooy: We Were Too Passive

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Van Nistelrooy: We Were Too Passive

Ruud van Nistelrooy rued Leicester City’s slow start at West Ham United on Thursday night, but insisted that elements of our second half performance were encouraging.

2025-02-28T09:00+00:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

28 Feb, 2025

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Too Passive

Ruud van Nistelrooy rued Leicester City’s slow start at West Ham United on Thursday night, but insisted that elements of our second half performance were encouraging.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-28T09:00+00:00

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Too Passive

Ruud van Nistelrooy rued Leicester City’s slow start at West Ham United on Thursday night, but insisted that elements of our second half performance were encouraging.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-28T09:00+00:00

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Too Passive

Ruud van Nistelrooy rued Leicester City’s slow start at West Ham United on Thursday night, but insisted that elements of our second half performance were encouraging.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-28T09:00+00:00

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Too Passive

Ruud van Nistelrooy rued Leicester City’s slow start at West Ham United on Thursday night, but insisted that elements of our second half performance were encouraging.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-28T09:00+00:00

We were beaten 2-0 by West Ham at London Stadium on Thursday
Tomáš Souček struck for the Hammers before a Jannik Vestergaard own goal
Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy says Leicester City were 'too deep' in the first half
He highlighted an improved second-half performance as a way forward

Tomáš Souček opened the scoring for the Hammers at London Stadium after 21 minutes before a Jannik Vestergaard own goal doubled the hosts’ lead before the break.

The Dutchman says his side ‘didn't put any pressure’ on West Ham early on in the capital, however he was also eager to point to their second-half improvement as a ‘way forward’.

“In the first half, we were too passive,” he said at full-time. “We sat way too deep, we didn’t put any pressure on the opponent.

“The back line was too deep, the midfielders stayed in front of the backline, the forwards didn’t have any support to press and go forward.

“In the second half, they are capable, they showed that – it proves it is the way forward. We have put the opponent under pressure at the right times and follow in with the midfielders and the defenders and take initiative on the game.

“In the second half, we had the initiative because of that. We at least came closer to scoring because, in the first half, we sat back and we were hoping that the opponent wouldn’t punish us.

“Then you [bring] it on yourself, when you get a corner, or a free-kick, or a deflection in the box and you concede easy goals."

City must start to produce more consistent performances, van Nistelrooy says, over a full 90 minutes if they are to overturn the five-point gap to safety in the Premier League table.

“There is obviously, in the situation we’re in and the run of form we’re in, [a lack of] confidence,” he added.

“The confidence is low. Because of that, we go back and sit deep. Then you don’t have any initiative in the game and you let the opponent in too much.

“In the second half, they proved the difference. The second half is the way forward. There was more courage and confidence going forward, with and without the ball.

“We say it every week. It’s time to do it, not for one half, or 60 minutes, but for 90 minutes. That’s the task that lies ahead.”

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