The full-back has been speaking about his final campaign at the King Power Stadium, in which City were relegated after a pitiful attempt at Premier League survival
Jordan Blackwell
13:08, 10 Apr 2026
Leicester City were defeated in 24 of James Justin's 36 appearances for the club last season
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Leicester City were defeated in 24 of James Justin's 36 appearances for the club last season(Image: Joe Prior)
Leicester City endured long losing runs and were relegated with more than a month to spare last term, and so it is not a surprise that James Justin counts it as the “worst season” of his career.
The full-back, now at Leeds, played in 36 of City’s 38 matches, with 24 of those ending in defeat. There was rarely any relief, with loss after loss suffered.
“Definitely, last season at Leicester was the worst season of my career,” Justin said on the Official Leeds United Podcast this week. “When you’re playing in a losing team week in, week out, it’s demoralising.
“It affects every part of your life, even if you try to put on a brave face at home. It impacts everything you do.
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“Everyone watches you as a footballer and every line of conversation is: ‘Oh, sorry about this and that.’ It brings a negative spin on your life in that year.”
City have not lost as many matches this season, but they’ve lost far more than would be expected, while many of their draws have been seen as underwhelming too. Once again, the relief of victories has been rare.
Trapped in another relegation battle, that demoralising feeling may have continued into this season and may be a factor in why City are struggling so much.
Unlike the other relegated clubs, City’s financial mismanagement stopped them from freshening up their squad to desired level.
They made nine signings, while Ipswich and Southampton made 13 each, both spending more and making more successful purchases.
Of all 24 Championship clubs, City’s signings this season have played the fewest percentage of minutes. So even for the recruits that City have bought in, their lack of pitch-time perhaps explains why the club have not brushed off that demoralising feeling.
Speaking last month, January loan arrival Divine Mukasa said it was part of his duty to try to lift the group because he’d not been bogged down in the negative energy of the season to that point.
“The energy of the team being good is important because you need that to get results,” Mukasa told LeicestershireLive.
“It’s more difficult for the guys that have been going through this for longer periods of the season, probably mentally.
“Me and the other lads who have come in have brought a good energy and that’s what we’re trying to do, to lift everyone else. We’ve not experienced this all season. We’ve got fresher minds, so it’s our responsibility to try to lift everyone else.”
It’s not just that City need fresh players, those players who have experienced the recent lows need fresh starts.
Justin, despite being the target of much fan frustration for his performances at City last season, is now a regular starter for Leeds and earning positive reviews for his displays.
Mads Hermansen had a slow start at West Ham but is now their number one goalkeeper, with his return to the side coinciding with an upturn in form.
Wout Faes left City for Monaco in January. He’s played every minute of a seven-match winning run that has taken the club from mid-table in Ligue 1 to a point outside the Champions League spots.
This summer, even if City do stay up, they need a total refresh. That’s for the sake of the players themselves as well as the club. All parties need to banish this demoralising feeling.
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