Ruud van Nistelrooy has raised his voice to Leicester City players every week
Ruud van Nistelrooy has admitted to raising his voice at Leicester City players – but believes it is necessary to improve the standards within the team as they battle against the drop.
Reports of heated exchanges between van Nistelrooy and individual players have emerged in the wake of City’s seven-match losing run, one that leaves them sitting 19th in the Premier League table. On-loan attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte is one of the players who was allegedly singled out by the manager.
Van Nistelrooy did not deny raising his voice at his players, instead admitting it’s happened a couple of times a week since he took charge two months ago. He says it’s merely a matter of holding the players accountable, which is part of his job role.
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City need to raise the standard of their performances if they are to survive this season, albeit their disastrous form has left them only two points from safety. But, if they suffer another loss at Tottenham on Sunday, they will claim an unwanted record, equalling the club’s worst-ever run.
“Every week I’ve been here I’ve raised my voice a couple of times to players,” van Nistelrooy said. “It’s nothing new. There’s a great respect between person and person, manager to player. We’re people first.
“But it’s my job to hold players accountable. Where are the things that can improve? What are the standards that are needed for a professional football player? It’s not always the kind and calm voice that I’m talking with now. We need to address things.
“When things are good I praise them and then also my voice is up. That’s nothing new. But it’s always with respect of the person.”
It was pointed out to van Nistelrooy that he may have been on the receiving end of harsh manager reprimands in the past, particularly at Manchester United, where Sir Alex Ferguson was known to deliver his infamous hairdryer treatments. Van Nistelrooy suggested that goes beyond his approach.
“We’re in 2025 now, not in 2000,” he added. “Times have changed, but it doesn’t mean you can’t hold players accountable in a certain way. It’s my job.”
