The March international break is delaying the inevitable at Leicester City as they stare down an immediate return to the Championship.
Leicester’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester United before the break saw them lose for the 13th time in 14 league matches, plummeting them dangerously close to the drop.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s appointment in November has inarguably made their chances of surviving even harder, as they’re now nine points adrift of safety.
Since replacing Steve Cooper in the dugout, the Dutchman has made some questionable decisions, including his refusal to change a losing system until recently.
Van Nistelrooy switched to a three-man defence against Chelsea, and the Foxes admittedly looked more solid, but fans will be angry that one player is still being underused.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Ruud van Nistelrooy has criminally underused Facundo Buonanotte
Most Leicester stars have lost their way since the former Manchester United striker took charge, including attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte.
Cooper signed Buonanotte on loan from Brighton in the summer and the Argentine hit the ground running at the King Power Stadium.
Facundo Buonanotte under Steve Cooper Statistic
Games 10
Goals 4
Assists 2
In 10 games under the Welshman, the 20-year-old returned four goals and two assists. He was a shining light in a difficult period and promised to continue that form under Van Nistelrooy.
MORE LEICESTER STORIES
However, Buonanotte has only started four times under the 48-year-old’s guidance, often being restricted to appearances from the bench and this has angered supporters.
Buonanotte under Ruud van Nistelrooy Statistic
Games (Starts) 14 (4)
Goals 0
Assists 0
In the loss to Crystal Palace in January, Leicester fans booed the decision to substitute Buonanotte, who was arguably their best player on the pitch.
Van Nistelrooy even made a subtle dig at Buonanotte in February, suggesting the silky playmaker wouldn’t strengthen the starting lineup when his performances under Cooper imply he would.
Buonanotte is second for minutes per goal at Leicester
Leicester set an unwanted Premier League record last time out, becoming the first team in the competition’s history to lose seven games in a row without scoring in each.
The last time supporters watched them score in the top flight was in a victory over Tottenham at the end of January, going seven games without finding the net.
A lot of that is to do with their lack of firepower in attack as Jamie Vardy remains their top scorer on just seven goals but interestingly, Buonanotte has the second best minutes per goal ratio in the squad.
Name Minutes per goal
Jamie Vardy 319
Facundo Buonanotte 333
Jordan Ayew 340
Patson Daka 463
Stephy Mavididi 467
Considering Buonanotte hasn’t scored since a 4-1 defeat to Brentford in November, it’s worrying that he’s second on the list but it also shows the level of their problems and why he perhaps deserves to start more games.