🔥🏟️Premier League boss already ‘facing dressing room issues’ just three games into the new season

Premier League manager already ‘dealing with dressing room issues’ just three games into the new season

Published 11:52 13 Sep 2024 GMT+1

Premier League manager already ‘dealing with dressing room issues’ just three games into the new season

Despite the Premier League season being only three games old, issues are reportedly emerging at one club.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

Leicester’s manager Steve Cooper is said to be encountering dressing room issues merely three games into the Premier League season.

Cooper began his tenure at the King Power Stadium this summer after Enzo Maresca departed for Chelsea.

The Welshman had previously managed Nottingham Forest for one-and-a-half Premier League seasons, leading them to promotion from the Championship in the 2021/22 season.

He was highly regarded by supporters at the City Ground, with many backing him over the club’s board even after his dismissal last season.

Cooper built a solid reputation through his coaching roles with England’s academy teams and had two mostly successful seasons with Swansea before leaving by mutual consent in June 2021.

Under the 44-year-old, Leicester has accumulated only one point from their first three Premier League matches and is currently positioned 15th.

However, The Sun reports that Cooper has already faced some issues within the dressing room at the King Power Stadium.

It is suggested that Leicester players are struggling to adjust to Cooper’s more hands-off management style compared to Maresca’s more authoritative approach.

The report also indicates that some players are ‘perplexed’ by Cooper’s request for their input on tactical decisions and potential signings, given that the previous regime directed them ‘exactly what to do in nearly every aspect of the game.’

Leicester manager Steve Cooper pictured –

Getty

It is reported that Cooper is ‘relaxed’ about the situation and understands that more time is needed to build better relationships with the players.

There is said to be ‘no tension’ between the manager and his players, although Maresca was also not universally well-regarded.

The Italian successfully led Leicester to promotion to the Premier League last season, but they finished 11th in the Championship form table during the last 15 games of the campaign.

This led to Foxes fans questioning Maresca’s ability to handle periods of poor form, but Leicester eventually secured promotion with a decisive 3-0 away win against Preston North End.

Cooper seemed to address these claims in his pre-match press conference on Friday, assuring reporters that he indeed has the full support of the players.

He said: “You can’t be narrow-minded enough to not see beyond the results. Some aspects of our performances have been positive.

“The players are on board, and we give them a voice. We need to do even more to deliver even more.”