Ruud van Nistelrooy respects Leicester City’s early leavers but instead wants to focus on those in the King Power Stadium crowd who have stayed to back his team through their dreadful run of results.
City are back at home on Sunday (7pm) against Manchester United looking to end their run of dismal home form.
Leicester have lost their last six home league fixtures without scoring a goal, a record in the top flight of English football.
The heaviest of those defeats, a 4-0 loss to Brentford last time out, saw fans make their way to the exits in the first half with the team already 3-0 down.
Van Nistelrooy said "it's been mentioned that the Leicester crowd goes against their own team", but instead of focusing on those supporters he was keen to make the point that there are fans who have remained in their seats even when there’s been nothing to cheer.
“It’s up to us to show we are bringing the Chelsea performance to the King Power Stadium in a great fixture against Manchester United,” van Nistelrooy said at his press conference on Friday.
“We know if we perform at those levels we will be supported. There are sections and people who leave because of disappointment, we have to respect that, but there are people staying who keep supporting us and we also respect that.”
If his side can produce a performance that generates the response it received during last Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea, van Nistelrooy will be satisfied.
Asked how City compared to a month ago, when they lost to United in the FA Cup, van Nistelrooy said: “Results wise, we’re not in a better place but the recent game against Chelsea and the change of structure was a positive. It’s something we want to build on and develop and do better in a home game.
“I felt the away support was unbelievable which helped us a lot. As a manager and as a squad, we realise there are some sections who sometimes go against the team when things are tough but there is definitely a big section among our own fans who are supporting us and I want to emphasise that they are there.
“With our performance, you see what the reaction of the crowd is. That for us is key to bring that on the pitch on Sunday and get the crowd behind us.
“The away section (at Chelsea) was completely behind the team for the full 95 minutes because of that performance, that energy and the quality of play in general.
“I also want to say there have been fans always behind us. It has been mentioned that the Leicester crowd goes against their own team – which happens and you can understand why – but there are large sections who have always supported us through the difficult moments. We appreciate both, but we want to mention those who keep supporting us.”
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