Graham Ruthven: Jamie Vardy and Ruud van Nistelrooy both speak the language of goals with Leicester striker revitalised 

THE Jamie Vardy party is back in full swing. The 37-year-old has scored in each of his last two games for Leicester City, earning the Foxes four crucial points against West Ham and Brighton. Even at this veteran stage of his career, Vardy remains the player at the King Power Stadium who could drag Leicester away from relegation trouble.

Of course, Vardy’s resurgent form has coincided with the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former Manchester United striker knows better than most what makes a goalscorer tick and there are encouraging signs for Leicester City that their new manager is getting the best out of Vardy again.

Under Steve Cooper, Leicester found themselves stuck between two ideologies. Last season, the Foxes played a brand of possession-based football with Enzo Maresca in charge. That style of play is now being replicated by the Italian coach at Chelsea following his switch to Stamford Bridge during the summer.

Cooper, however, set up Leicester to play on the break. This was something that worked for him during his time as Nottingham Forest manager and so there was good reason to believe this approach would have success at the King Power Stadium. After all, Leicester City won the title playing on the counter. It’s in the club’s DNA.

Having been left foundations built by Maresca, though, Cooper failed to impose his own ideas on a squad moulded to play another way. Leicester were always expected to be in a relegation scrap this season, but their listless performances suggested a change was needed and van Nistelrooy was brought in.

 

Van Nistelrooy has injected energy in his first two matches as Leicester City manager. Vardy is setting the tone for the Foxes from the front with van Nistelrooy focusing on getting the 37-year-old into good scoring positions. Five goals in two games against West Ham and Brighton is proof of Leicester’s revitalised attack and Vardy looks back to his best.

On some level, there appears to be a connection between Vardy and van Nistelrooy. Both men speak the language of goals. Even in his short spell as Manchester United interim manager, van Nistelrooy got more out of a forward line that had struggled badly under Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman knows how to relate to strikers.

The recovery against Brighton demonstrated how van Nistelrooy is harnessing Vardy with fresh wingers – Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Stephy Mavididi – sent on for the final half hour. Those wingers gave Vardy the service he required to change the game. As long as the 37-year-old has service, he will give Leicester City hope.

“If you are on the scoresheet and make an assist, then you have to say this result would not be possible without him,” said van Nistelrooy when asked about Vardy’s game-changing contribution against Brighton which saw Leicester City fight back from 2-0 down to salvage a point against the high-flying Seagulls.

Jamie Vardy's last 7 games for Leicester… • ⚽️ vs Southampton• ⚽️ vs Nottingham Forest• 🅰️ vs Ipswich• ❌ vs Chelsea • 🅰️ vs Brentford • ⚽️ vs West Ham• 🅰️⚽️ vs Brighton37-years-old. Incredible. 👏 pic.twitter.com/tAjtDh0AdN

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) December 8, 2024

 

“It’s also the performance of the whole team, of course, that puts him in position. I enjoyed the whole sequence leading up to the goal and that’s why, we as a team, we put him in a position there. That’s why we want these players who can make the difference for us in position. Then Jamie had the awareness for that second goal, because I think you know with strikers, their eyes are focused on the goals.”

Difficult fixtures against Newcastle United, Liverpool and Manchester City await for Leicester City before the end of the year, but there is a sense that the Foxes have turned a corner with van Nistelrooy at the helm and Vardy supplying the goals. The 37-year-old isn’t finished making a difference at the King Power Stadium.

Please remember to gamble responsibly. Visit our Safer Gambling section for more information, help and advice.