Sky Sports: Why disgruntled Leicester City chant means more as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s unusual plan pays off.

 

The first half of the plan has paid off. Leicester City will find out if the second half is complete at 9:25 p.m. on Wednesday. Ruud van Nistelrooy has two options for the FA Cup third round. He might have rested his regulars and put together an inferior team. It would have made progression more difficult, maybe resulting in a sixth consecutive defeat, but it would have allowed second-string players to enhance their fitness and, most significantly, kept the starters fresh for a crucial Premier League encounter at home to Crystal Palace in midweek. Instead, he picked the second best option, fielding as strong a team as feasible. It made victory more likely, offering a greater chance at a confidence boost. But it also risked injury, a potentially damaging blow to morale in the event of a defeat, and tiredness on Wednesday evening.
In opting for the second choice, van Nistelrooy took the road less travelled. It arguably shouldn’t be this way, but it is now unusual for a Premier League team to play their strongest line-up in the FA Cup, especially at home to a lower-league side.

From Thursday to Saturday, eight other Premier League teams played at home versus EFL clubs, with an average of eight changes to their lineups. They all made at least six changes, which was twice as many as van Nistelrooy made. Even still, one of the three City switches was necessitated by injury, while the other two saw players enter the lineup who most fans believe are stronger than the ones they replaced. QPR manager Marti Cifuentes said that van Nistelrooy’s lineup was a show of respect for both the competition and his team. That could be partially accurate. Van Nistelrooy spoke effusively about the FA Cup in midweek, having lifted the title with Manchester United, and QPR are one of the Championship’s in-form sides.

However, this was a demonstration of respect for the value of confidence and development. Van Nistelrooy understands that his team is still in the early stages of his rule, with weekly progress greater than it would be two or three years later. He believes that playing one more game according to his plan will benefit his players when they get at Palace. Furthermore, while confidence in the ranks should have been growing following recent strong performances, a win is required to properly jumpstart the good mood. Van Nistelrooy used QPR as proof of this. They went 13 games without a win between mid-September and mid-November. When they finally experienced victory, they began a streak of six wins in ten, with only one defeat. They rose from bottom of the Championship table to 13th.

But, given that it was a Premier League team playing at home against a Championship club, and given the expectations, City needed their victory to be decisive in order for it to have that beneficial impact. Fortunately, it was only after the second half. For much of the first period, they were second best, with QPR dominating the game. But after the break, it was quite comfortable. The city dominated, with visitors scarcely getting a sniff. And they concluded with a comfortable victory that should give them confidence ahead of Palace. If they can put on another confident performance and claim the three points, van Nistelrooy’s plan will certainly be successful.

If they put in a good performance but are not rewarded, it will be frustrating, but it will be tough to deny that the manager had the right approach. But if they appear leggy and lose their sixth Premier League match in a row, it may be necessary to confess that the plan failed. As things stand, they’re halfway to taking it off. Van Nistelrooy’s favourite goal might imply “third time lucky.” This is the third time Bilal El Khannouss and Facundo Buonanotte have started together under van Nistelrooy, and each time, the opinion has been that it is a partnership City should maintain. Buonanotte was dropped after their first two matches together. Perhaps it will be third time lucky.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk