Ruud van Nistelrooy hasn’t had much luck since he took over as Leicester City manager.
His luck was certainly out at Old Trafford as his side were dumped out of the FA Cup in controversial fashion.
A debatable handball decision against James Justin, when the ball struck his elbow with his arm across his body, was compounded by former Leicester defender Harry Maguire scoring a stoppage-time header from a clear offside position.
The biggest bonus for Van Nistelrooy and Leicester, however, was the return of Wilfred Ndidi after missing 10 games with a hamstring injury.
Van Nistelrooy had won and drawn his first two games in charge with Ndidi in the side. They then lost eight out of nine Premier League games without him.
With Jamie Vardy missing with a minor injury, it was significant that Ndidi was handed the captain’s armband.
After such a lengthy absence he was never going to last the full 90 minutes, let alone an additional 30 if the game had gone to extra time. He left the field in the 58th minute, with Leicester 1-0 up and on the front foot. Without him, the old vulnerability became apparent again.
He looked a little rusty with the ball, losing possession eight times and completing 35 of his 42 passes, and his defensive statistics weren’t eye-catching either, with just one interception, blocked shot and clearance.
But it was clear his presence lifted Leicester and those around him, especially Boubakary Soumare.
Against Manchester United’s midfield, the pair in tandem looked stronger and more aggressive. They are qualities Leicester have been lacking during their recent poor run. They have been far too easy to play against. They have been bullied and obliging with horrendous individual errors. Ndidi has never been easy to play against, even when Leicester have struggled.
Leicester offered more in midfield against United (Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
Soumare is a player with great potential but at times it is potential that threatens to never be fully realised.
Against Tottenham he showed his qualities, driving forward from midfield with the ball and being aggressive in the tackle to win it back, as he did in the build-up to Vardy’s equalising goal in north London.
A week later, against Everton, he was shadow of that player, anonymous in large parts and lacking the same intensity. Whether it was Ndidi’s presence at Old Trafford that spurred him back to his best form, the Frenchman certainly began to match the industry of the man alongside him.
Soumare made five tackles, the most by a Leicester player, with two interceptions and three clearances. He also made 60 passes, also the highest total, with a success rate of 85 per cent.
Both were involved in Leicester’s first-half goal, with Soumare pinching the ball back in the build up, and it was Ndidi who was on the end of El Khannouss’ low cross that forced the eventual rebound for goalscorer Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
Van Nistelrooy has lamented his side’s performances in both boxes in many games, but Soumare in particular was a big influence in Leicester’s area, especially as substitute Alejandro Garnacho was constantly able to deliver low dangerous crosses from the left. Invariably it was Soumare on hand to snuff the danger out.
“You’ve seen the game, you’ve seen the way he played, the way he lifted the team, on the ball, off the ball, his performance was excellent,” Van Nistelrooy said of Ndidi in his post-match press conference.
“Also his leadership. Not only did he wear the captain’s armband, it was also the way he led the team, the way he was demanding from those around him, coaching, talking, preventing situations to occur.
“He and Bouba had a great partnership today, on the ball but also off the ball to control the game.
“We showed today that we are capable of competing.”
After the Spurs win, hope returned to Leicester. A week later it disappeared again.
The return of Ndidi and the physicality he and Soumare offer could bring renewed hope as Leicester try to find the fight to remain in the Premier League, and continue to rub shoulders with the likes of United next season.
(Top photo: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
