Leicester Players Face Owner’s Wrath After Difficult Start
Leicester City are in the midst of a tumultuous season, with tensions flaring both on and off the field. The club sits precariously in 16th place in the Premier League, having secured only ten points from twelve games. The recent dismissal of manager Steve Cooper has only exacerbated the situation, leading to a tense confrontation between owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and the Leicester squad.
Owner Accuses Players of Letting Cooper Down
Srivaddhanaprabha reportedly confronted the players this week, directly accusing them of letting Cooper down. While Srivaddhanaprabha was ultimately responsible for Cooper’s dismissal, sources close to the situation suggest he feels the players bear a significant degree of responsibility for the team’s poor performance.
Partying in Copenhagen After Chelsea Defeat
Adding to the controversy, pictures and video footage emerged over the weekend of Leicester players partying at the Museo nightclub in Copenhagen just hours after their defeat to Chelsea. The trip to Copenhagen was pre-approved, but the optics of the players celebrating after a loss have not gone unnoticed.
A sign reading “Enzo, I miss you” was spotted in the footage, a seemingly cheeky reference to Enzo Maresca, the manager who guided Leicester to promotion to the Premier League earlier this year before departing for a coaching position at Chelsea.
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet identified Jannik Vestergaard and Victor Kristiansen as two of the Leicester players present at Museo.
Brentford Awaits on Saturday
Leicester face a challenging trip to face Brentford in the Premier League this Saturday. Interim manager Ben Dawson will be hoping to steady the ship and steer Leicester towards calmer waters.
However, the events of the past week have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the team’s preparations. Srivaddhanaprabha’s public dressing down and the controversial post-match celebrations in Copenhagen suggest a team grappling with internal divisions and external scrutiny.
Only time will tell if Leicester can overcome these challenges and turn their season around.
How has Leicester City’s performance been impacted by the departure of key players since their Premier League title win in 2016?
## Leicester’s Troubles: An Interview
**Host:** Joining us today is seasoned football journalist, David Jones, to discuss the current turmoil at Leicester City. David, thanks for being with us.
**David Jones:** My pleasure to be here.
**Host:** Leicester seems to be in freefall. They’re languishing down in 16th position, have sacked their manager, and now there are reports of the owner, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, being furious with the players. What’s going on at the King Power Stadium?
**David Jones:** It’s been a perfect storm really. Leicester have struggled to recapture the magic of their Premier League title win in 2016. Several key players have moved on, and they haven’t been adequately replaced. Their current form is worrying, and the sacking of Steve Cooper only appears to have amplified existing tensions. The reports of Srivaddhanaprabha’s anger are no surprise. He’s invested heavily in the club and expects results. The players will feel the pressure to turn things around quickly.
**Host:** You mentioned financial constraints. Does the club’s recent relegation to the Championship play a role in this current situation?
**David Jones:** Absolutely. As per [1](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4534497/2023/05/28/leicester-relegated-what-went-wrong/) due to the Championship’s profit and sustainability rules, Leicester’s budget for players has been drastically cut. This limits their ability to bring in reinforcements and compete at the Premier League level they’re accustomed to.
**Host:** So, what’s the outlook for Leicester? Can they avoid a further drop down the leagues?
**David Jones:** It’s a tough ask, but they certainly have the resources and history to bounce back. The key will be finding the right manager and making smart signings in the upcoming transfer windows. The players will need to show resilience and adapt to the challenges of the Championship. It’ll be a season of change and rebuilding for sure.
**Host:** David Jones, thank you for your insightful analysis. We’ll be watching Leicester’s progress closely.
