Steve Cooper on Leicester's 3-0 mauling at Manchester Utd

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Steve Cooper on Leicester's 3-0 mauling at Manchester Utd  10/11/2024  Old Trafford, Manchester, UK

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00:00Yes, so obviously it's never a good scoreline that you want to be on the end of. I think

00:16that the reality, as simple as it sounds, for United's goals, you'll see two shots

00:25from outside the box and I'm sure there's plenty to talk about in terms of the quality

00:31around that. But we've got to look at ourselves and see that we didn't get enough pressure

00:37on the ball for the shots, we didn't get enough pressure on the ball for the cross

00:41and the first contact, for the second goal, the first and third goal. The third goal will

00:47be a little bit longer as the phase of players started from our corner. So really, at the

00:55other end of the pitch, for as much as the good positions we got in, we never really

01:01looked like the threat that we're capable of. So that's where the scoreline was and

01:07we have to accept that we fell short in and around both boxes of creating scoring and

01:14obviously trying to stop the opponent. I felt the game was largely, in general play,

01:21fairly even. It never felt like one team was really on the ascendancy and was peppering

01:27a goal and things like that. We had some good phases and some good spells in the game, there's

01:31no doubt about that. I'm looking at some of the players and thinking they've played

01:34well today. But there were moments where, as a team, around both boxes, we've not been

01:44what we want to be in terms of stopping the goals and obviously scoring them as well.

01:48I know you've been asked in the past about this, but all three goals came down your right-hand

01:52side as well. Is that an area of concern for you now?

01:56I'll have to look at the ins and outs of the goals in more detail. You look at the game

02:05in isolation, but we've also got to look at bigger picture stuff as well. So whether there's

02:12a correlation of personnel for them two things, I don't know. It's something we'll definitely

02:16have to look at. But regardless of right-left-hand side, middle, we've not got up to the ball

02:23when they've been in and around our box and have allowed them to show the quality that

02:28they have. Once again, we leave here thinking that there was so much more we could have

02:36done in the game. In terms of the game, did it feel like a 3-0 loss? No, but it was because

02:47we didn't show enough at both ends of the pitch.

02:53You've scored in every game, but you didn't have that box threat. Can you put your finger

03:05on it?

03:07Like I said, there's a frustration, Jordan, because we were in more than enough positions

03:14today to really cause a threat. Whether it be in wide areas, whether it be through middle

03:20areas, whether it was 1v1s, whether it was combinations, passes and behind shooting,

03:24we just haven't done that next bit and turned it into chances and ultimately then goals.

03:30So it was a team thing, there's no doubt about that. And it's frustrating because, as you

03:35said, we've had at least one, and often in other games a lot more, moments where we have

03:41created chances and do look like we're going to score a goal. So it was frustrating that

03:45we didn't hit them levels today.

03:47Is Jamie's absence a reason behind that?

03:52It will always be, yes, because he comes alive in the box and it can be as good as it gets

04:03really, in terms of sniffing out a chance. And we actually did get in and around United's

04:08box a lot more than we have done other games, and that will be frustrating for him watching

04:15it. But it's about the guys who played today, obviously, and like I said, there was more

04:20than enough opportunities to cause damage today. But for whatever reason, and obviously

04:26we were lucky there, for whatever reason, we didn't turn good positions, good opportunities

04:31into productive moments.

04:34That's about Jamie and Ricardo.

04:37Yeah, Jamie's a bit inconclusive. He picked up quite a nasty knock to his back last week

04:44and he hasn't given me every opportunity. We just didn't manage to shake it off, even

04:50though we're still a week away. So we'll have to see how that goes. We're still, like I

04:58said, trying to work out exactly what it is. Ricky's more conclusive and serious hamstring

05:05injury and he's going to be ruled out for four months. So that's a blow, especially

05:10for him. We have to support them both now on their recovery, but Ricky will obviously

05:17be a lot longer than Jamie.

05:20There were a few boos from the Leicester fans at full-time, so what can you say to those

05:26fans to convince them that you're on the right track?

05:29Yeah, listen, I accept that it's a 3-0 defeat and you're not going to get cheered off in

05:38any way, whether you're here at Old Trafford or anywhere else. Like I've said to you before,

05:43I have no problem with any fan's reaction, good or bad, because they're entitled to do

05:47that, especially the three away games and the money that they spend and their commitment.

05:52I have a lot of respect for that, regardless of what they may feel. I will always respect

05:57the commitment of a football supporter.

06:02So now, like everything else, I'll accept any situation and be motivated to help it

06:12to feel better and to get better and keep going with what we believe in. Like I said,

06:18we've got the international break now to work with the players that are with us, but to

06:24do some extra work off the pitch in terms of reviewing, taking stock, planning and getting

06:31ready for when we recommence. There might be some let-off in terms of getting ready

06:35for games, because there is no game next week, but there won't be any days off for the staff

06:41and working towards getting going again in a couple of weeks.

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