‘Out of his depth’… Leicester City fans outraged by Steve Cooper’s controversial selection vs Chelsea

Leicester City faced Chelsea in a critical match, desperate for three points to improve their Premier League standing.

The Foxes entered the fixture on the back of a 3-0 loss to Manchester United before the November break.

With Leicester perilously close to the relegation zone, a defeat to Chelsea could see them drop to 18th in the league table, depending on other weekend results.

Pundit Jason Derlou had predicted a Leicester victory, but given Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were third in the league, Steve Cooper and his team were braced for a challenging encounter.

Chelsea boasted one of the top attacks in the Premier League, having lost just once in their last five matches.

In contrast, Leicester’s defense ranked as the third-worst in the league, leading to expectations of a high-scoring affair.

Fan Outrage Over Mavididi’s Exclusion

As the match approached, Leicester’s lineup was a hot topic among fans.

The team faced forced changes with Abdul Fatawu sidelined for the season and Facundo Buonanotte suspended.

Despite these absences, Leicester fans were stunned when the starting XI, announced at 11:30 AM, revealed Stephy Mavididi on the bench.

Steve Cooper opted for Kasey McAteer and Bilal El Khannouss instead, sparking outrage on social media. Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration.

One fan exclaimed, “2024 Premier League and we’re starting McAteer over Mavididi, I’m done.” Another added, “McAteer instead of Mavididi is honestly crazy; give me one reason why it’s a good idea.”

A third supporter criticized, “Why isn’t Mavididi playing? Cooper has to go.” A fourth sarcastically quipped, “Fatawu injured? Buonanotte suspended? PERFECT time to drop Mavididi.”

Others questioned Cooper’s reasoning further. “McAteer starting over Mavididi? Yeah, Cooper has lost the plot,” one fan lamented, while another suggested, “I think Mavididi instead of Ndidi should’ve been the play.”

A Controversial Decision

If Buonanotte and Fatawu had been available, Mavididi’s omission might have drawn less attention.

However, with the Englishman being the only fit winger to have earned regular minutes in the 2024/25 season, benching him baffled supporters.

While Mavididi hasn’t been a standout performer in the Premier League this season, his two goals in 10 appearances represent a decent return for a struggling team.

Fans were left questioning Cooper’s tactics, with many fearing the decision could backfire.

Should Leicester lose to Chelsea, fan dissatisfaction with Cooper is likely to intensify.

For a team teetering near the relegation zone, questionable lineup choices in crucial matches only add fuel to the fire.