Ruud van Nistelrooy has spoken about a training ground incident involving Jannik Vestergaard last week.
In a damning report that revealed the fragile state of Leicester City behind the scenes, one detail emerged about Vestergaard stating that he had brought his dog to the Seagrave training ground.
As per The Telegraph, Vestergaard shocked staff members after being spotted walking his dog around the training ground before asking liaison officers to look after his pet.
It comes at an awful time for the Foxes, who are in dreadful form and are six points adrift of safety as Leicester prepare to face Chelsea.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Ruud van Nistelrooy addresses training ground incident
There’s already tension between Van Nistelrooy and Vestergaard after he refused to shake the Leicester manager’s hand after the loss against West Ham United.
Vestergaard is also one of three senior players, alongside Harry Winks and Conor Coady, who Van Nistelrooy has told to move closer to Leicester due to them all making lengthy commutes.
The dog is the latest in a long line of unrest behind the scenes but the Leicester manager has said that it is water under the bridge and not an issue.
He told Leicestershire Live: “I see it as one incident and a non-issue.
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“In general, I’ve tried to increase the standards over the past three months. This had nothing to do with the general standards that I’m responsible for at this club.
“That’s my personal pride that’s in it as well. I expect players to be as professional as they should be for a top athlete in the Premier League.
“It’s what I demand and what the club demand. Of course, there will be incidents that I have to address, and I always will.”
Jannik Vestergaard has history of Leicester City unrest
It’s not the first time Vestergaard has been involved in controversy behind the scenes at Leicester.
Steve Cooper banished Vestergaard from first-team training after a series of disputes and the Denmark international also fell out with Brendan Rodgers, to the point where he was completely ostracised from the squad.
Three managers all appear to have had problems in some capacity with the defender. The 32-year-old is out of contract in 2026 and while he enjoyed success under Enzo Maresca, has struggled to really leave a mark on the side.