Leicester City will fight for survival until it's mathematically impossible, Ruud van Nistelrooy has vowed despite the club’s woeful form.
A 13th defeat in 14 matches to Manchester United on Sunday night means City are nine points off safety with nine games to go.
When they completed their great escape 10 years ago, the gap was only seven points at its largest.
While City look destined for the drop, van Nistelrooy said his side were not waving the white flag.
“It’s about the mathematical possibility that is there,” van Nistelrooy said. “As long as that is the case, we are professionals and keep doing our jobs. We can’t and won’t give up until it’s mathematically impossible.”
As for City’s latest defeat, van Nistelrooy felt the game was settled in the two boxes. It was the seventh straight home game City have lost without scoring, a top-flight record.
They had more chances than usual, Jamie Vardy denied by Andre Onana late on and Facundo Buonanotte seeing a goalbound shot blocked by Matthijs De Ligt at 2-0.
But they again failed to find the net and still didn’t do enough to deserve anything from the game.
Asked where the game was lost, van Nistelrooy replied: “In efficiency, in taking opportunities, scoring, and in defending key moments in the game. That’s where the difference was made today.
“The opportunities we created were there to score one or two goals. It’s not falling our way at the moment, it’s clear. You’ve seen the chances. Also defending some key moments in the game, we could have done better.
“That’s the scoreboard. That’s where you as a team put the numbers on the scoreboard or keeping your opponents from scoring.
“Other than that, the effort was there, the positive approach was there, putting pressure on the opponent, creating chances. But then it’s the next thing to take them.”
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