Ruud van Nistelrooy denied that he was shocked by Leicester’s lack of transmission activity and says that they have to dug through “restrictions”.
The fighting foxes were only able to contribute the player during the transfer window in January, with defender Woyo Coulibaly arriving for £ 3 million from Parma.
Van Nistelrooy appointed teenagers Jeremy Monga (15) and Jake Evans (16) in his squad to face Manchester United in the fourth round of FA Cup on Friday.
Leicester, who is currently in the Premier League, has PSR concerns to ensure that they comply with the expenditure limits, which means that they were unable to spend large sums of money.
The loan movements in January were also difficult because the rules were removed from domestic loans due to Loanees Facundo Buonanotte and Odsonne Edouard, who had signed last summer.
The palace striker Edouard has introduced four times the entire season, while Buonanotte has only started three times since Van Nistelrooy was appointed.
“The reality is not always the way you want,” said the Dutch manager. “I was part of the picture and communication, so it was no surprise to develop from November to the end of January.
“With what we have to deal with, the opportunities and restrictions go hand in hand.
“The idea was that there were certain options, but when the numbers came on the table, they were different. We had to re -evaluate ourselves, look at the possibilities within this framework.
“We couldn’t get them. Simple fact. That is the reality. We tried it, but the focus was on Impact players to strengthen the squad. We did it with Coulibaly, we could strengthen, but other options were not possible.
“I am quite pragmatic, continue and use the best of what we have, there is young talent.”
Leicester Select 15 and 16-year-olds in the FA Cup squad
Shots away, Jake 💥 pic.twitter.com/3r9l1iewpj
– Leicester City (@lcfc) February 6, 2025
Van Nistelroy’s decision to select the teen duo Monga and Evans has raised the eyebrows, but the head of the Foxes believes that the Cup competition is a good chance of offering young people.
Van Nistelrooy said: “The FA Cup is also fantastic to record young players in my squad, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, you will be part of the squad tomorrow.” he said.
“It is an opportunity in which these things can happen, opportunities for players.
“The moment I came from the Netherlands, it is a country in which they develop players and sign them for teams in the larger leagues.
“In my time in PSV it was great to develop Cody Gakpo, Noni Madueke, Xavi Simons, Jarrad Branthwaite, Johan Bakayoko, Ismael Saibari – as a manager and work with these boys.”
FA Cup a welcome distraction
Leicester has lost eight of her last nine Premier League games, but can bring her bad league shape to one side on Friday when you visit Old Trafford before returning to Arsenal next weekend.
Van Nistelrooy said: “It is always welcome on Friday collecting or distracted. We’ll do everything we can to be in the best form and it is never a distraction.
“Playing in this trophy is a privilege and we want to show what a fantastic away game in Old Trafford is about.
“These games are more than welcome. It is a dream for every player to play there. “
Old Trafford Return
The former United striker Van Nistelrooy returns to Old Trafford as an opposing manager for the first time after he had supervised four games as interim boss after Erik Ten Hag’s at the beginning of this season.
“It is something special to return there. I have history as a player, as an assistant, as a caretaker, ”he added.
“My focus is on my players and my team to get the best out of them and show what we are about in combat and in mind.”
