The hopes of Leicester City of Survival in the Premier League took another blow this weekend when they suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace at King Power Stadium. The defeat lets the foxes languish in 19th place, two points at the safety drift with Ipswich Town and Everton holding a match in hand. With more than half of the season, the battle of Leicester to avoid relegation is becoming more and more desperate.
A promising start that collapsed
Leicester entered the match in the back of a 3-0 victory on the Rangers of Queens Park, and their confidence was obvious in the first half against Palace. The Foxes dominated possession, created several score opportunities and seemed well organized by director Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Their passage and their fluid movement suggested that they were the best side, but their inability to convert the chances was expensive.
Despite their solid departure, Leicester could not break the dead end and the palace became the game. The London team took advantage of their opportunities, marking twice to secure the three points. For Leicester, this result was a bitter pill to swallow. They were the best team for big sections of the game, but lacked the clinical advantage necessary to transform their domination into goals.
This defeat extends the Leicester defeats to six consecutive games, a control of reality for a team that has shown quality lightning. Although their performances have often been laudable, the Premier League is ruthless and the Foxes are still below the most important object.
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Defensive misfortunes and glimmer of hope
One of the rare positive points of Leicester this season was the impact of Van Nistelrooy coaching. The Dutchman brought the clarity of the team’s tactical configuration, and the foxing attack game has improved significantly. Players like Bilal El Khannouss, who fought for opportunities under the former manager Steve Cooper, prospered under the direction of Nistelrooy. The young midfielder has been one of the artists outside the Leicester competition in recent weeks, presenting his creativity and his work rate.
However, defensive problems continue to torment the team. The Leicester bottom line was trembling, conceding objectives at crucial moments. The injuries also did not help things, with key players like Mads Hermansen, Ricardo Pereira, Abdul Fatawu and Wilfred Ndidi sidelined. Their absence has left the team short of quality and depth, in particular in defense.
In order to respond to these concerns, Leicester took its first step in the January transfer window, signing the rear Woyo Coulibaly from Parma for 3 million pounds sterling. The 25 -year -old should compete with James Justin for the right back point, and Van Nistelrooy hopes that this addition will strengthen the team’s defensive solidity.
The difficult battle for survival
With only 16 games to do in the season, the chances of Leicester to avoid relegation seem to be thinner. Their rivals have picked up points and reinforced their teams in the transfer window, while the foxes continue to fight for consistency. The January window could be crucial, and Leicester will have to make smart signatures to give oneself a chance to fight.
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Van Nistelrooy remains optimistic, stressing that his team plays well and just needs this little quality to transform performance into results. However, time is exhausted and the pressure rises. Foxes’ survival hopes now depend on their ability to approach their gaps and turn their season.
For Leicester City, the coming road is undeniably difficult. But in football, foreign things have happened. If they can strengthen their team and find a way to be more clinical in front of the goal, they could simply make a great escape. Until then, the foxes and their fans will hold their breath, hoping for a miracle.