'You Need To Be Spot On' - Van Nistelrooy's Preview

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'You Need To Be Spot On' - Van Nistelrooy's Preview

Ahead of a first Premier League test of 2025, Ruud van Nistelrooy has called for consistency from his Leicester City side.

2025-01-04T07:00+00:00

by Matthew Temple

Published

04 Jan, 2025

from LCFC Training Ground

'You Need To Be Spot On' - Van Nistelrooy's Preview

Ahead of a first Premier League test of 2025, Ruud van Nistelrooy has called for consistency from his Leicester City side.

Matthew Temple

2025-01-04T07:00+00:00

'You Need To Be Spot On' - Van Nistelrooy's Preview

Ahead of a first Premier League test of 2025, Ruud van Nistelrooy has called for consistency from his Leicester City side.

Matthew Temple

2025-01-04T07:00+00:00

'You Need To Be Spot On' - Van Nistelrooy's Preview

Ahead of a first Premier League test of 2025, Ruud van Nistelrooy has called for consistency from his Leicester City side.

Matthew Temple

2025-01-04T07:00+00:00

'You Need To Be Spot On' - Van Nistelrooy's Preview

Ahead of a first Premier League test of 2025, Ruud van Nistelrooy has called for consistency from his Leicester City side.

Matthew Temple

2025-01-04T07:00+00:00

Following a spirited performance, which ultimately resulted in defeat to Manchester City at the end of December, the Foxes will be hoping to kick-start the New Year when they face Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League.

Dropping into the bottom three, van Nistelrooy is hoping to turn the tide and pick up valuable points that will see his side climb the table. The main talking points from Thursday's press conference follow below...

'We need to maintain that level of performance'

The Foxes impressed despite defeat to Man City last time out.

Even though Leicester found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreline against Man City, the former Manchester United striker was pleased with the performance on Filbert Way, and believes that consistency and fine details must improve to ensure they start picking up points.

"I think the performance on it's own was very good," van Nistelrooy told the media. "We showed a very good version of ourselves both on and off the ball. We saw that in the reaction of the crowd.

"Of course, it says something when people get excited, and they were straight behind the players after a loss to Wolves beforehand so that helped us during the game and after half-time as well.

"There was a good connection between the players and the crowd. Of course, what doesn't sit well is that we didn't take anything from the game, points wise.

"We're at a point that our performances are getting better but we need to make sure this translates into points. We need to maintain the level we're at but look at the finer details in both boxes and taking the opportunities to score, while dealing with situations better in our box.

"The development is there, but against the bigger teams and in the Premier League, you need to be spot on."

'It's been an important month to assess the squad'

Ruud has been enjoying getting to know his new team.

Joining the Club at a busy period, the Dutch Manager has enjoyed getting to know his players and staff, and believes that will help with the end result of remaining in the Premier League as the team prepare for a crucial second half of the season.

"When you join during a busy period and play six times in a month," van Nistelrooy stated, "and with a condensed training schedule as well, it can be challenging. On a personal level you learn a lot about who they are, how they train and how they play.

"That's why it was such an important month to assess the squad and to see where we are and what we want to do going forward.

"When you plan the games, you look at the squad and the players, but when you start to work with them, you get to know them a lot better and your information increases.

"We're working together with staff that were here in the past so they share a lot of information also within the Club, so there's a lot of information to go through which helps us understand the team and what we need to do."

'They're becoming a good and stable club'

Villa Manager Unai Emery.

Discussing Saturday's opponents, the City Manager is a big fan of Unai Emery and believes success has followed throughout his career, and has continued to do so at the Villans.

Although they'll be without key players such as Jhon Duran and Morgan Rodgers, who will miss the game through suspension, van Nistelrooy believes they have depth within the squad, and Leicester must be at their best to take the points.

He added: "They're doing an excellent job. Unai [Emery] is a top coach and I've followed him for many years and he's very clear with what he wants and how he wants his team playing.

"He's doing an excellent job with the squad, which has plenty of quality, with players they've signed over the last few years so they're building up to become a very good and stable club.

"Yes they have players out, but Bailey [Leon] will be back from injury and they've got Mings [Tyrone] back so it's a squad that will still have a top team out on Saturday.

"So it's for us to be prepared when we face them."

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