Leicester City legend Andy King’s survival advice for Foxes squad | OneFootball

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s King Power side are not as perilously poised at the precipice of relegation they were during Nigel Pearson’s great escape, but they are in a worse position than they were when Brendan Rodgers’ tragic relegation campaign. Let us hope they can channel more Pearson and less Dean Smith.

To help in channeling the memories and determination which saw Leicester survive in that season, the Dutchman has promoted ‘Kingy’ straight from U18 coach to a first team coach, with a primary focus on two things. First, helping to integrate our star youth talent into the senior squad. Second, in advising and motivating players in a similar vein to what Pearson managed.

What Leicester City legend has said

Ruud van Nistelrooy was asked about Andy King’s early contributions as a first team coach, and commented on the messaging Kingy has used with the players:

The messaging from the Dutchman and his coaching staff now seems to be to keep on going. To be fair, that is the exact way Pearson managed to turnaround the poor run of form with an exceptional turn of luck: their performances started to turn into results. So, the priority is to maintain levels in their performances.

The Foxes will have to prepare for every match, stick to the broad plan that Kingy develops with Nistelrooy, and show their defensive resilience similar to their positive performance against Arsenal. If those performances continue, Leicester will eventually get results, and when they do they will build their confidence up and start winning matches more regularly.

Andy King would be wise to focus on that belief aspect. Should heads drop, should players feel they have no chance, then they will truly be out of the race to survive. They have to believe in the play style, their chances, as well as in each other. We saw the failure of this in the waning moments of Rodgers where defenders did not trust one another or the goalkeeper to act, so they would try to take on too much responsibility, thus creating gaps in defence and weakening Leicester City.

Premier League survival would be vital should the King Power Club hope to sign attacking talents in the summer that can offer an impact on how we create or score chances. Andy King and his experience of the great escape might be just what the players need.