Ruud van Nistelrooy gave a terse response over Leicester City’s future with ominous signs for his position at the club.
Van Nistelrooy said he has still not had any conversations about the summer and next season with the club’s hierarchy, while also said he had read reports around his future this week.
Speculation is rife that he is on the verge of the sack as City seek a new boss for the Championship, with former Southampton manager Russell Martin the favourite to take over.
The Dutchman initially gave blunt answers at his press conference on Friday morning but relaxed as it progressed.
In the first question, van Nistelrooy was asked what was required over the summer for the club to be competitive next season. He said: “It would be good to find out.
“It would be good to have a conversation. It would be good to come together if that’s what they want. There haven’t been any other conversations.”
On his reaction to suggestions in the media he is close to losing his job, van Nistelrooy replied: “I read them and go back to my job. That’s what I’m here for. That’s what my responsibility and drive is, to prepare the game for Sunday with the players.
“Six weeks ago I changed the narrative on the season, shaping the future, bringing in academy players. We had to because of the relegation, sadly enough.
“Those six weeks have been with development and results. It’s something I want to continue with the players.
“We wanted to break cycles, which we achieved, bring some positives and take them into the new season. We wanted to help Jamie (Vardy) with his closure, leaving the club in the best possible way, I was delighted with how that came to an end.
“It’s the last one this Sunday and now the focus is on that.”
City travel to Bournemouth for the Premier League’s finale this weekend and movement on van Nistelrooy’s future is expected thereafter. For the benefit of the club, answers are needed, van Nistelrooy believes.
“If you look at my job, I’m responsible for the good of the football club,” the Dutchman said. “I emphasised it five weeks ago, that it could be an opportunity to start planning early, which I think would have been for the benefit of the football club. For me that’s the interest.
“It’s not about me and my future. It’s what is good for the football club. I always shared that with the board and the chairman. It’s up to them how they want to deal with it.
“Then I will focus because that is the job in the short term. They know how I see things, it’s up to them how they respond to that.
“We’ll all find out, hopefully sooner than later. Not for me personally, but it’s important for the club and the supporters. It needs to be clear what the strategy will be and the plans and how to attack next season. Obviously it’s a big one.”
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