Gary Lineker delivers seven-word verdict on Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City start.
Ruud van Nistelrooy off to a strong start as Leicester City manager.
Leicester City parted ways with Steve Cooper in November after securing just two wins from 12 Premier League matches, leaving the club perilously close to the relegation zone.
In response, the Foxes moved swiftly to bring about change.
Although linked with several managerial options, Leicester wasted little time in appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy as their new boss.
The Dutchman had briefly served as interim manager at Manchester United, during which he managed to defeat Leicester twice.
Prior to that, his only full season of senior managerial experience came in the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven.
Despite his limited managerial background and just a few Premier League games under his belt, Van Nistelrooy has made a promising start to life at Leicester.
Gary Lineker’s Take on Van Nistelrooy’s Start
The 48-year-old witnessed his team’s humbling 4-1 defeat to Brentford from the stands shortly after his appointment.
However, his tenure officially began on December 3rd with a crucial 3-1 victory over fellow relegation contenders West Ham United.
More recently, Leicester demonstrated resilience in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion, with late goals from Jamie Vardy and Bobby De Cordova-Reid securing a valuable point.
The comeback highlighted the team’s fighting spirit under their new manager.
After the match, Leicester legend Gary Lineker shared his thoughts on Van Nistelrooy’s start during The Rest Is Football podcast.
Offering a concise assessment, Lineker remarked, “Good start, five points clear of relegation.”
Tough Road Ahead for Leicester
While the Foxes have climbed five points above the bottom three after 14 games, their 14-point total remains far from the 40 points typically needed to secure Premier League safety.
Van Nistelrooy faces a challenging road ahead.
Leicester’s upcoming fixtures are daunting, beginning with a tough away game against Newcastle United this weekend.
This is followed by a crucial clash against fellow relegation candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 22nd—a must-win for both sides.
The challenges intensify thereafter, with successive fixtures against heavyweights Liverpool, Manchester City, and Aston Villa.
These matches will test Leicester’s resilience and Van Nistelrooy’s ability to steer the team away from danger.
