Ruud and Vardy inspire Leicester
Leicester City 3 - 1 West Ham United
Jamie Vardy played a key role in giving Ruud van Nistelrooy a dream debut as Leicester City's new manager, while heaping more pressure on Julen Lopetegui at West Ham.
Vardy found the net just 98 seconds into Van Nistelrooy's first game in charge, with Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka adding further goals to secure a vital win for the Foxes.
The victory lifted Leicester to 15th in the Premier League, leaving them just two points behind the struggling Hammers. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the hosts, as goalkeeper Mads Hermansen was called upon to produce several outstanding saves to keep West Ham at bay.
Niclas Füllkrug headed in a late consolation goal for the visitors during stoppage time, but the result leaves Lopetegui under mounting pressure. With just three wins from their last 12 league matches, frustration among Hammers fans was evident as they directed their anger towards the manager.
Premier League: 2024/2025 season
The pressure is really building on the West Ham boss
West Ham will be left wondering how they lost this game, especially considering the chances they had. However, this defeat has once again put manager Julen Lopetegui's future under scrutiny. His fate may be determined by Boxing Day, if not sooner.
The Hammers face matches against Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton, and Southampton, and Lopetegui’s legacy will likely depend on the outcomes of these remaining fixtures in December.
A bad night for West Ham. Listen to the opinion of Hammers player Niclas Füllkrug in the video below youtu.be/y-neHjzjuU8?... Visit eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com/p/premier-le... for more reaction to this and so much more.
— European Super Football (@superfootball.bsky.social) 4 December 2024 at 10:58
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An old enemy now in favour at Leicester
When Ruud Van Nistelrooy finished his last game as Interim Manager of Manchester United, you'd bet he didn't imagine that he'd be eventually leading his opponents.
He'd had just two days to work with his Leicester City squad before they faced West Ham, but he managed to inspire a remarkable turnaround after a dismal six-match winless streak.
Leicester rode their luck at times, particularly in the first half, but they showed the grit and determination needed to climb out of the relegation zone.
Just days earlier, Van Nistelrooy had watched from the stands as the Foxes endured a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Brentford, delivering what many considered their worst performance of the season.
However, after leading his first training session on Sunday, the Dutchman was thrilled with his team’s spirited response, showcasing hard work and creativity.
A good first night in charge for Ruud. More discussion to come here - https://t.co/WxVvUbbilrhttps://t.co/W7yNvEFxJj
— European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) December 4, 2024
Leicester fans share Ruud's delight
Frank, a loyal Leicester season ticket holder, shared his thoughts: "Much better. It was not perfect by any means. We gave the ball away far too often, especially in the first half, but the second half's performance was strong. There was plenty of fight and lots of other positives. Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare were outstanding. Things can only improve from here!"
Amie P, another passionate Foxes fan, added: "The higher tempo throughout the match was crucial. It disrupted the Hammers' rhythm at key moments. There was more energy, and commitment. We had a bit of luck when we needed it, but our effort made us deserve the win."
