大象传媒

'Cooper did not have the luxury of time without results'

Steve Cooper and Jamie Vardy talk and smile as they come off the pitch. Vardy supported Cooper during his time at Leicester.Image source, Getty Images
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Steve Cooper did have the buy-in from senior players at Leicester - including Jamie Vardy - but struggled to convince others in the squad.

The former Nottingham Forest boss was sacked on Sunday after just 15 games at King Power Stadium having replaced Enzo Maresca in the summer.

Maresca won the Championship title with the Foxes last season, taking them back to the Premier League at the first attempt, and was well liked by the team.

He had them well drilled, down to the smallest detail, the plan was clear and concise and some of the players had found it difficult to adapt to Cooper's style, which was less expansive with a desire to move the ball forward quicker.

There was a frustration from some in the squad of how much they were being asked to move away from what had brought them success last season.

Yet senior players, led by Vardy, were onside even if others were not, sources have told 大象传媒 Sport.

They continued to fall into the old ways requested by Maresca. Cooper was aware of that and was trying to change it - but he did not have the luxury of time without results.

His only pre-season target was survival and the Foxes spent less than the other promoted teams in Southampton and Ipswich.

Two wins from 12 Premier League games has them 16th and Leicester felt, while they wanted the appointment to work, there was too much to overcome.