Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has kind words for Wilfred Ndidi following his side’s hard-fought home win against West Ham United on Tuesday.
The Dutchman enjoyed a perfect start to his managerial reign at the King Power Stadium following his side’s 3-1 thumping of the Hammers.
Ndidi put up a spectacular performance in the middle of the park.
Van Nistelrooy recognised the Nigeria international’s performance after the game.
“Soumaré and Ndidi had an unbelievable game, covering a lot of distance, winning a lot of balls in duels and second balls and also on the ball,” the Dutchman told the club’s official website.
“We realise how good the Premier League is and the performances we have to put in to get results.
“The foundation of that togetherness and hunger to achieve something is shown today.
“That reflected in the stands and only gives the players more spirit. That was the biggest win from today. It’s something that is vital. That confidence is so important in football.”
By Adeboye Amosu
4 Comments
Ruud Boy Van Nistelrooy starts his Leicester project with a convincing win.
When he was temporarily in charge of Man United, we saw attacking football, with players deployed in roles that brought out their best attributes.
Now at Leicester, different players to work with, but similar end product. Good attacking football on display.
The impact Ruud has had on Leicester is obvious. That’s what a good coach can do for a team.
Man United’s loss is Leicester’s gain.
Imagine our current SE in the hands of a capable coach like Ruud Boy? If wishes were horses.
When Cooper was at the helm, he deployed Ndidi as an attacking midfielder. Ndidi fulfilled that role as best he could.
Ruud Boy comes in, and redeploys Ndidi as a box to box DM alongside Soumare. Result? Man of the match performance from Ndidi.
Does a good coach who knows how to use players make a difference? You tell me.
Pompei…it is not the fault of the coach, it is the fault of the players…LMAOOooo
Does a good coach who knows how to use players make a difference?
Very valid question…!
@Pompei, that’s the exact point in one of my previous posts on who should take the blame: the Super Eagles players or poor coaches being appointed ti tinker the team?
As said in those posts, the role of a coach in football is like that of a builder in construction. You can have the finest materials—marble, gold-plated tiles, imported Italian glass—but if your architect or construction engineer doesn’t know what they’re doing, you’ll end up with a mansion that looks like a poorly assembled Lego set. This is precisely what we’ve seen with teams that thrive under good coaching and those that flounder under mediocrity. Leicester’s transformation under Ruud van Nistelrooy is a glaring example of how a coach can reshape the fortunes of a team.
Let’s face it, Leicester didn’t suddenly raid Europe for new superstars or unearth hidden footballing gems from Brazil. They’ve mostly got the same players who were running around like headless chickens a few weeks ago. The only thing that changed is the person on the touchline, and voila, they’re playing like a team with an actual plan! Just like the team under Maresca, Van Nistelrooy came in, identified what each player could do best, and organized them into a cohesive unit. The result? Attacking football that doesn’t just look good but gets results. Has anyone also noticed what Maresca is doing with Chelsea right now? Is there any material change in the playing personnel that has them evolved so well under their new coach? Didn’t the former gaffer buy players? Why was he given the boot by the Chelsea’s board?
Now compare that to the Super Eagles, a team loaded with talent but lacking the direction needed to transform potential into glory. What we have is akin to handing a Bugatti to someone who doesn’t know how to drive. Sure, the car is fast, but if you don’t know which pedal does what, it’s not going anywhere—except maybe into a ditch. Eguavoen’s record and history with the team inspire about as much confidence as a surgeon with shaky hands. I simply don’t trust him to deliver anything different from the catastrophes of the past. It’s that simple.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) must understand that hiring a coach isn’t just about filling a vacancy – that’s what they’ve been doing at different critical moments throughout history; it’s about transforming a team. A good coach doesn’t just select players and bark instructions; they analyze, strategize, and inspire. They elevate players, unlock hidden potential, and create systems that maximize team strengths. The NFF needs to stop settling for mediocrity and start thinking like Leicester’s board, who saw Van Nistelrooy’s potential and gave him the reins. We need a coach with a proven track record, someone who can bring the best out of Osimhen, Iwobi, Ndidi, and the rest. And no, I’m not talking about another hastily recycled local option or someone who peaked during the Nokia 3310 era. We need a transformational figure, not a placeholder.
The funny (and tragic) part is that policy decisions in Nigerian football often seem to be based on vibes and prayers. “Oh, he’s coached the team before, let’s bring him back.” But nostalgia isn’t a strategy, and familiarity doesn’t win tournaments. Look at the teams beating us. They don’t have half the individual quality we boast, but they have structure, a plan, and a coach who knows what they’re doing. The excuse of “we don’t have the resources” doesn’t even fly anymore. After all, if Rwanda, Angola and even Benin, I mean countries we consider small economically speaking, can afford expatriate coaches, why is it so hard for us, the so called giant of Africa, get one? Certainly, if the NFF officials can travel the world under frivolous pretenses, surely they can find the budget to hire a top-class coach.
Here’s the deal: if a coach like Van Nistelrooy can turn Leicester around within a short time, imagine what someone of his caliber could do with the Super Eagles in few years to come. Our players have the talent, but they need direction. The current setup feels like a waste of resources. The NFF needs to ask themselves a critical question: do they want to keep patching holes and scraping by, or do they want to build something sustainable and glorious? If they choose the former, don’t be surprised when teams like Lesotho continue to frustrate us.
In football, the coach is the difference between chaos and order, underachievement and glory. It’s time the NFF stops treating this position like a consolation prize and starts viewing it as the engine of success. Anything less, and we’ll continue to punch below our weight while the world moves on without us.