According to Van Nistelrooy.
We now play against a better team [than us] every week. “After another loss to Brentford, however…
Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted his team has “a huge mountain to climb” to avoid relegation after their survival hopes took a heavy blow with a 4-0 defeat to Brentford on Friday.
The Foxes have now lost six consecutive games at home without scoring, a Premier League record.
The Dutchman has lost 11 of 15 games since taking charge in November, and his side remain 19th in the top-flight standings on 17 poin
A brief but promising stint as interim manager of Manchester United was enough to convince the Foxes hierarchy to appoint Van Nistelrooy as Steve Cooper’s permanent successor, but the former striker has been unable to turn the tide at the King Power Stadium.
During that time the fanbase has further disconnected with the club, leading to protests towards the hierarchy at recent games.
“It’s blow after blow after blow, there’s a lot of hard work put in without results,” Van Nistelrooy said.
“Some performances you can take some hope from, but we have to accept we are in a position now where every week we face a better team [than us].”
“You have to look at performing at the maximum of your capabilities. I cannot ask the players to do more than that. With the squad we have, it’s a huge mountain to climb to stay in this league, that’s the reality.
“Today it showed. We are making a couple of mistakes, we didn’t perform at our best and Brentford were too big a challenge for us.
“I’m not saying that [they’re not good enough] but the expectation, that’s not fair. You cannot live up to them. Then you can only do the best you can.”
A good run of results could see them leapfrog Wolves in 17th to sneak out of the relegation zone, but with upcoming Premier League clashes against Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, a continuation of their tough run of form could cut Van Nistelrooy’s side further adrift.
“I’m working within that situation. I didn’t know what it would be like, it’s not easy, it’s a hard situation and a huge challenge,” he added.
“The situation we are in is alarming and the mountain
“We depend on the other teams to lose but we also know that’s not going to be forever. It’s on us to collect enough points.”
It took Brentford a little more than half an hour to score three goals and a stream of demoralised Leicester fans left the King Power early.
“There is nothing we can do, everyone is entitled to their opinion and to voice that and that is what the fans are doing,” club captain Jamie Vardy said.
“That is up to them, we just have to concentrate on the football and that is all we can do.”
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