Ruud van Nistelrooy sat down to talk to the press ahead of Leicester City’s trip to face Manchester City on Wednesday.
The Foxes haven’t won, or scored, in the Premier League since 26 January and are hanging onto their top flight status with their fingertips.
By the time they play, Leicester could be 12 points behind 17th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving them with a near-impossible task.
Leicester could be aided by the absence of Erling Haaland, who is a doubt for the game after going off injured. Pep Guardiola is also suspended after picking up a third yellow card of the season in their win against AFC Bournemouth.
It’s going to be a tough task for the Foxes but before that, here’s three things you may have missed from the Leicester manager’s press conference.
Ruud van Nistelrooy on what Leicester did during the international break
Several Leicester players were away on international duty during the two week break, with a number of Foxes impressing for their nations.
Given that so many first-team stars were away, training had to be altered and Van Nistelrooy revealed that he allowed a number of youngsters to train with the Leicester seniors still there.
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He said: “We had less players away than here so we had a big group. We introduced some young players into the group who had a good week with the first team.
“The way we’re training, we’re doing everything to get the most out of our players. The appetite is there to show ourselves and we have to prove that on Wednesday.”
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Ruud van Nistelrooy on facing Man City
There aren’t many tougher tests in world football than taking on Man City.
The reigning Premier League champions may be having a disappointing season by their standards but they remain a force to be reckoned with but the Dutchman is relishing the chance to take on the Citizens.
“We are in a battle, but everyone’s looking forward to this game,” said the 48-year-old. “They’re four time league winners in a row. They’ve been a dominant force for many years.
“When you’re not looking forward to these games then something is wrong with you.”
Can Leicester City stay up?
Right now, it feels like an extremely tall order when it comes to the Foxes’ survival chances.
Leicester have a horrid run of fixtures to come, including the likes of Newcastle United and Liverpool.
Giving up would be the easy option but for Van Nistelrooy and his players, that’s out of the question.
The under-fire boss said: “Our focus is on doing the best we can and that gives us the best chance to pick up points.
“It’s tough. Ipswich and Southampton are in a similar situation. It’s important to stay with the process and stay motivated, and with that I cannot ask any more.”