Troy Deeney delivers bold verdict on Leicester City, including Steve Cooper’s potential sacking
Following Leicester City's comeback win at Southampton, Troy Deeney includes one player and manager Steve Cooper in his Premier League Team of the Week.
Leicester City’s top talents are finally receiving the recognition they deserve after securing back-to-back Premier League victories, with a comeback win at Southampton this weekend.
Despite trailing 2-0, the Foxes demonstrated resilience, turning the game around with a stunning second-half performance at St. Mary’s Stadium, culminating in a last-second victory.
After a difficult first half, Leicester found themselves in a tough position.
However, a key moment came in the 64th minute when loanee Facundo Buonanotte scored the goal that sparked their revival.
Jamie Vardy later equalized from the penalty spot after Southampton’s Ryan Fraser was sent off, and Jordan Ayew sealed the win with a dramatic goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Buonanotte’s impact earned him a place in Troy Deeney’s BBC Sport Team of the Week.
The former Watford striker praised the 19-year-old Argentine, stating, “His side struggled in the first half at Southampton, but Buonanotte stood out for his bravery.
He gave the Foxes a much-needed spark and belief throughout, and was pivotal in turning the game around.”
Buonanotte’s performance was impressive, with stats to back it up: he had the third-most touches for Leicester, made seven tackles, took five shots, delivered five crosses, completed four dribbles, and provided three key passes, in addition to his crucial goal.
Despite this, much of the post-match discussion centered around substitute Abdul Fatawu, who also played a significant role in Leicester’s victory.
Introduced in the 59th minute, the Ghanaian’s speed proved too much for Southampton to handle.
Fatawu’s run and cutback set up Buonanotte’s goal, and he nearly scored himself, hitting the crossbar in the lead-up to Vardy’s penalty.
Fatawu then played a part in the winning goal, leaving the ball for Ayew to strike.
Deeney also selected Leicester’s Steve Cooper as his Manager of the Week, praising him for orchestrating the comeback.
However, Deeney suggested that Cooper’s job was on the line, saying, “I genuinely believe that had Leicester lost at Southampton, their manager would have been sacked.
Cooper made changes at half-time, as he’s done in other games, and his team fought back.
It was a massive performance to come from 2-0 down to win—a monstrous task that they took on with broad shoulders. Simply excellent.”
This comeback marked a crucial moment for Leicester, as Cooper’s tactical adjustments and the team’s determination paved the way for a remarkable victory.
