Leicester's dramatic decline hinged on one bad decision

Ruud van Nistelrooy has lost a relegation battle but he could still win Manchester United’s manager of the year award.

- RICHARD JOLLY

At least if Ruben Amorim does not bring silverware in the Europa League, anyway, because Van Nistelrooy’s record at Old Trafford – three wins from four, unbeaten – stands out in a year of underachievement. So does his record at Leicester, though in another respect: Van Nistelrooy averaged two points per game at United, a mere 0.4 with Leicester.

A strange season for him has been a dreadful one for Leicester. Relegation went from probability to inevitability, the respectability of their performance against Liverpool, as their fate was sealed, coming amid a wretched run of form. He hinted he wants to stay – Foxes never quit, after all – and may need to, his reputation sufficiently dented by the last five months that few others may be in a rush to appoint him but it would seem implausible if, when he holds talks with the club, they are keen to keep him.

“I expected to bring more points to the table,” said Van Nistelrooy. He brought a mere eight. He had never been in a relegation battle before as either player or manager. He seemed unsuited to it. Van Nistelrooy and Leicester, each on the rebound, rushed into a relationship with each other. He claimed he had “no regrets” about his time in charge. Privately, he should harbour plenty.

Leicester have lost 16 of their last 18 games under Van Nistelrooy. A man with many goalscoring records has a team with one of their own: nine consecutive home league games without a goal, none in more than five months. Since the middle of December, 22 Premier League goals have been scored at the King Power Stadium, none by Leicester.