File photo dated 27-02-2025 of Ruud van Nistelrooy who has described Leicester's daunting schedule as a "privilege" in their battle to stay in the Premier League. Issue date: Monday March 31, 2025.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Image: © 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved)
Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy insists that the daunting run of games they face in their bid for Premier League survival is a "privilege", even as the team sits nine points away from safety with just nine matches left.
The Foxes' schedule includes playing against title-contenders and cup winners, but Van Nistelrooy remains focused on performance. Leicester return to Premier League action against Manchester City on Wednesday, before hosting Eddie Howe's Newcastle next Monday evening, with Liverpool, Forest and Brighton still to face.
"We know we have one target and that is to perform every second we are in this league, whatever the circumstances are and the situation," he said, "We have a great run of games. It's a privilege to play games against City, Newcastle, Brighton and Liverpool. OK, we are in a battle, but the players are doing everything they can to be the best they can be. It's tough but it's a great challenge we are facing and we will do the best we can, starting on Wednesday."
Van Nistelrooy is well aware that relegation rivals Ipswich Town and Southampton are in a similar position and stressed that it's crucial to stay motivated. Ricardo Pereira could return to the Foxes squad for their midweek game against City after missing recent games through injury.
"He's doing really well, hopefully we can get him on the training pitch with the team and see if he's ready for Wednesday," Van Nistelrooy said of Pereira. "We carried on training because we had 14 or 15 players and fewer players on international duty, so we had a big group.
"We added the young players who are doing really well and Jeremy Monga and Jake Evans, among others, who had a good week with the first team. Everybody had a good week and after that some time off and then picked up again last Thursday."
Newcastle return to action against Brentford at St James' Park on Wednesday before heading to Leicester for Monday night's televised fixture. They then host Manchester United and Crystal Palace in what will be a huge two weeks for their Champions League hopes.