Yahoo News Steve Cooper gives 'desperate' response to Leicester City chants
Steve Cooper is “desperate” to “build credit” with Leicester City supporters after fans turned on him and the team as they scraped through to the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Cooper watched his much-changed side play out a goalless draw with League Two outfit Walsall before Danny Ward saved three penalties in the shoot-out to put the club into the hat for the next round. While there’s relief at progression, morale in the fanbase may still have been damaged.
More than 2,000 City fans made the trip across the Midlands and, as their team struggled in the second half, they chanted: “Cooper, sort it out!” In the final 10 minutes, there were shouts of “This is embarrassing!”
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Midway through the second period, a fan from the City end ventured onto the pitch and seemed to make a beeline for Cooper and his dugout, shouting and pointing. But Cooper didn’t shy away from discussing the fan chants and said he’s determined to win them over.
“I didn’t really see (the fan who ran onto the pitch), but I heard the chanting in the crowd and I’ll own that,” Cooper said. “You’ll never hear me having any disrespect against fan opinions. That’s what a supporter is, they need to support their club in how they see fit. I will own that.
“I need to build some credit with supporters and earn the right to do the job. I knew that anyway. It’s things like that that will make me even more committed and determined to do well. I’m desperate to do that.
“I have no problem with it. It’s an experience for me that I will try to make the best of. What an opportunity to show how good I am and how good we are. That will be my approach to it.
“I’ll never have a bad opinion about any view. I have a lot of respect for supporters. I know I have got to build credit with supporters. It’s nights like this where you can look back on and really build strong relationships. That’s my objective.
“I really, really want to do well for this football club. I’ve really bought into what it stands for and the people who work here. Everyone is so good-willed and good-natured and wants the club to do well and I take that responsibility seriously. That extends to the supporters. It’s important to talk about it. I see it as a great opportunity.”
