Van Nistelrooy: We Were Very Effective

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Van Nistelrooy: We Were Very Effective

Ruud van Nistelrooy praised his players for their resolute display in the 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Tuesday evening.

2024-12-04T08:30+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

04 Dec, 2024

from King Power Stadium

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Very Effective

Ruud van Nistelrooy praised his players for their resolute display in the 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Tuesday evening.

Sam Jones

2024-12-04T08:30+00:00

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Very Effective

Ruud van Nistelrooy praised his players for their resolute display in the 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Tuesday evening.

Sam Jones

2024-12-04T08:30+00:00

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Very Effective

Ruud van Nistelrooy praised his players for their resolute display in the 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Tuesday evening.

Sam Jones

2024-12-04T08:30+00:00

Van Nistelrooy: We Were Very Effective

Ruud van Nistelrooy praised his players for their resolute display in the 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Tuesday evening.

Sam Jones

2024-12-04T08:30+00:00

Leicester City defeated West Ham United 3-1 on Tuesday
Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka all scored
Ruud van Nistelrooy is up and running as Foxes Manager
The Dutchman discussed their spirit and togetherness post-match

The Dutchman’s first match in charge of the Foxes could not have gone much better, with Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka all on the scoresheet before Niclas Füllkrug’s late consolation prevented a Foxes clean sheet alongside the three points.

City now sit in 15th position, just below West Ham, following a third success of the Premier League campaign, which lifts Leicester four points clear of the bottom three, as of Tuesday night.

Speaking after full-time at King Power Stadium, van Nistelrooy outlined: “Of course, in the end you look at the result and the points. We know in the position that we’re in, what we wanted out of the game was three points.

Opening the scoring on Filbert Way.

“I think we did that by being very effective with our chances, by having a lot of hunger and togetherness off the ball and fighting spirit. That got us through the game. West Ham created a lot, had a lot more chances and attempts, but we had a great spirit so that was a great complement to the players.”

City’s captain started the scoring just two minutes in, while Mads Hermansen made a series of stops at the other end to preserve the first-half lead. The midfield pairing of Boubakary Soumaré and Wilfred Ndidi, meanwhile, was also praised by the 48-year-old.

“We know what he’s capable of and the runs that he’s making,” van Nistelrooy said on Vardy. “He linked up very well with Bilal, who played him in, just onside, and then the calm finish in the far corner, that’s typical of him.

“In the end, he (Hermansen) kept us in the game. We were 1-0 up, had a difficult period and he made some very important saves. We had some great blocks as well, but I think everyone was working and helping each other.

“Soumaré and Ndidi had an unbelievable game today, covering a lot of distance, winning a lot of balls in duels and second balls and also on the ball, they were giving us some good bits to play forward, so compliments to them as well.”

A first Premier League strike for the Moroccan.

The confidence this win will bring has to be taken into Sunday’s fixture against fourth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, van Nistelrooy believes, with another chance to impress in front of the Blue Army.

He added: “We realise how good the Premier League is and the performances we have to put in to get results and the foundation of that togetherness and hunger to achieve something is shown today.

“That reflected in the stands and only gives the players more spirit. That was the biggest win from today. It’s something that is vital. That confidence is so important in football.

“These three points are big for us and we also realised it is something to build on and we keep focusing on the things that we mentioned before as a foundation. That means hard work and more hard work.”

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