Why Steve Cooper’s Recent Unpopular Tactical Decisions at Leicester City Have Actually Proven Correct – Opinion
Steve Cooper Relieved After Securing His First Premier League Win as Leicester City Manager Against Bournemouth
Leicester City secured a vital 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, thanks to Facundo Buonanotte’s powerful strike, giving them a much-needed first league win in their fight for survival this season.
Steve Cooper, who replaced Enzo Maresca as Leicester City’s manager in the summer, has yet to fully win over the club’s supporters.
Prior to this win, there was growing pressure on him, but the victory lifted Leicester to 15th place in the league table.
With upcoming fixtures against Southampton, Nottingham Forest, and Ipswich Town, Leicester now has a promising opportunity to secure more points.
One of the perplexing issues for Leicester fans under Cooper’s leadership has been his decision to leave Abdul Fatawu out of the starting lineup.
In addition to his past connections with Nottingham Forest, Cooper’s defensive tactics have left some Foxes supporters dissatisfied.
A particularly contentious point has been his reluctance to play both of last season’s standout wingers, Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu, together.
Fatawu started the season in Leicester’s starting XI, but Mavididi was brought in after he scored in his first two Premier League appearances following his inclusion by Cooper.
The manager prefers a tactical approach in which one winger stays wide while the other drifts inside, taking on a more central role.
In Cooper’s view, Mavididi and Fatawu do not complement each other well enough to fulfill this system.
As a result, Fatawu, who was a fan favorite last season, has found himself struggling to get game time as Cooper opts for different options.
One tactical decision that has paid off for Cooper is his use of Buonanotte.
Though Cooper has been criticized for playing overly defensive football, often fielding three defensive midfielders, he made a key adjustment against Bournemouth by dropping Harry Winks and moving Jordan Ayew into a more advanced position as a number ten.
Instead of giving Fatawu a chance on the right wing, Cooper placed Buonanotte there, which proved to be a masterstroke.
Buonanotte was a constant threat, cutting inside from the right onto his stronger left foot and causing havoc for Bournemouth.
While some Leicester fans may still question Fatawu’s absence from the team, Cooper’s current approach, particularly with Buonanotte, seems to be working well.
