Leicester City manager, Dean Smith, has taken a firm stance with his struggling squad as they face the looming threat of relegation. In a decisive move, Smith decided to cancel the team’s scheduled day off this week, following their disappointing 5-3 defeat against Fulham on Monday, a result that pushed them closer to the relegation zone.
Currently occupying the third-bottom spot in the Premier League, Leicester City finds themselves teetering just two points above the safety line, with only three games remaining in the season. Fully aware of the gravity of the situation, Smith convened a meeting at Leicester’s training base on what would have been the players’ day off. The manager is optimistic that his message has resonated with the squad, as they prepare for a crucial clash with Liverpool on Monday.
Explaining his decision to forgo the rest day, Smith remarked, “It was due to be a day off, but I don’t like things lingering. We came in and sorted it. I thought it went well, the proof will be on Mon
day.” Smith’s coaching philosophy revolves around learning from past mistakes and swiftly moving forward. “I’ve always been brought up in this game that you can’t change what’s happened, what you can do is learn from it and correct it and move on quickly,” he added.
Since taking over as Leicester City’s manager in April, following the dismissal of Brendan Rodgers, Smith has faced an uphill battle to lift the team away from the relegation danger zone. The 2016 Premier League champions have failed to secure a victory in their last three matches, gradually slipping closer to the prospect of playing in the second tier.
Smith emphasized the importance of putting the disappointing Fulham game behind them and focusing on the challenges ahead. “There’s no point us worrying about the Fulham game for two or three more days. I wanted to put it to bed,” Smith declared. By promptly addressing the issues at hand and engaging in a candid conversation with the players, the manager aimed to set a clear path forward.
“It was a case of making sure we got that out there very quickly and spoke to the players, and then we could move on from there. I did the talking and told them what I expected in certain situations of the Fulham game, what we needed to do better, and what we will do better going forward,” Smith affirmed.
As Leicester City fights for their Premier League survival, Dean Smith’s decisive actions seek to motivate and refocus the players, urging them to leave their recent setbacks behind and concentrate on the challenges that lie ahead. With their fate hanging in the balance, Leicester’s encounter with Liverpool will be a crucial test of their resilience and determination to secure their top-flight status.
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