Man City 2-0 Leicester: Three Foxes players who let the side down | OneFootball

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Foxes were characteristically lethargic, disappointing, and offered literally zero fight in a match underscored by results elsewhere. With Wolverhampton Wanderers having beat West Ham United, and Ipswich Town beating Bournemouth, the King Power club’s loss leaves them all but confirmed relegated. The match was crucial to at least put in some sort of spirit. The players did not do that.

Leicester City’s match in review

With zero shots on target, two goals conceded in the first half (including Jack Grealish’s 2nd minute goal), a total of only 397 touches - compare that to 907 for the hosts - and with the game being played almost entirely in Leicester’s half. There is little to really be positive about.

I think we all expected the Foxes to lose the game, but you would hope that with relegation almost a definite certainty at this stage, that the players themselves might have shown a little fight and spirit against a big team. The result was a performance across two halves which really lets all the players down.

That being said, it could be argued that three of the players offered essentially zero impact on the game for Nistelrooy’s team. Looking at the contributions of each player who was involved for the majority of the fixture, Patson Daka, James Justin, and Wout Faes were particularly weak.

The three players

Looking at what each contributed, it is key to understand the role they ought to fulfill inside the Dutchman’s system. Further, it is vital to compare what the other players were doing at the same time. I should also premise that the general malaise meant none of the players on that pitch particularly shone, although Bilal El Khannouss was the only player who managed to even try a glancing shot.

The Zambian forward’s initial role was to be a link-up between midfield and Jamie Vardy, while supporting the progression of the ball by collecting it deep and driving it forward. This changed a little in the second half with Vardy having been taken off, as the primary striker he was then responsible for actually getting into shot-taking positions. As with the rest of the season, Daka struggled.

In neither role did Daka do a good job. The Brendan Rodgers signing took zero shots in total, touched the ball only 23 times (not really linking anything if he’s not touching the ball), put in essentially no defensive challenges to apply pressure or collect the ball, and overall did nothing to progress the ball. So, Daka did not create, defend, take chances, or even pass the ball much.

The English fullback started as a right-sided wing-back with the primary responsibility to defend on the wings so Wout Faes and Wilfred Ndidi can focus themselves more centrally in defence, and to support in both carrying the ball into the opposition’s half, as well as making passes towards Daka or El Khannouss. I think we know the story, but I will explain.

With zero tackles, only three interceptions (mainly mistakes from Man City players), just nine carries of the ball (by comparison, Conor Coady had 15), missed nearly 25% of his passes, and offered no attacking outlet. So, the right-back who is meant to be defending did very little defending bar passively standing in space, barely collected the ball to take it forward and break presses, gave possession away incessantly… need I say more? A poor performance for one of Leicester’s longer term players.

The Foxes are unfortunate to not be blessed with a fit out-and-out strong central defender who’s only job should be to defend, and have a strong header for corners. Harry Souttar remains unavailable and shall not be for some time. Meanwhile, Wout Faes - who ought to be putting in several challenges, and getting the ball up the pitch as swiftly as possible offered - again - nothing that Caleb Okoli could have done better.

With just two tackles and interceptions - in a massively difficult fixture - while Luke Thomas and Wilfred Ndidi both managed four, the only thing the Belgian did well was carrying the ball. So, although not an impressive performance, Faes was nowhere near the worst for Leicester City. The lethargic nature of that side really underscores why massive changes are coming in the transfer window.