Yahoo News Steve Cooper kicks out elephant but it’s only half the battle in pursuit of three Leicester City objectives
When the sixth or seventh question about the chants aimed towards Steve Cooper was billed as the last one on the matter, the Leicester City manager jumped in to say: “I’ll talk about it as much as you want. We can’t hide away. We don’t want any elephants in the room.”
It is a potentially awkward topic – given how early it is into his tenure – but Cooper’s open approach to the supporters’ grievances has well and truly booted the elephant from the room. There’s no sense that fans’ discontent needs to be discussed in hushed tones.
As he did on Tuesday night, Cooper again spoke with passion at his press conference on Thursday about his commitment and desire to understand the views of City fans, and to win them over. His comments will help immediately. There will be those who, on the back of his answers, will soften their hostility.
READ MORE:Leicester City predicted line-up v Arsenal with change expected but two favourites left out
READ MORE:Vardy, Vestergaard, Stolarczyk – Leicester City injury update ahead of Arsenal
“I respect supporters,” Cooper said on Thursday. “I respect how important it is to people. I respect how much money they spend. I respect how people can get life memories, spend time with their families, that it’s a representation of the local community. I respect and admire that.
“If they are going to voice an opinion, I want to hear it and I want to try to understand it. When there were chants and ill-feeling towards me the other night, my first reaction was not to be defensive or aggressive. It’s to understand it and try to put it right. It only makes me more determined to do right by them.
“I always think about what’s right for a football club and what’s best for a football club. When I take a job, I commit to the club. I always put it first.
“I would imagine from the other night, there’s a lot of noise and a lot of talk about me, but I’m not thinking about that, I promise. All I’m thinking about is about how we win, how we play, how supporters can be connected to the team, how can they be proud of the team, what can I do to help that. That’s who I am.
“I want nothing more than those three things: winning, playing well, and a positive, happy fan community that are really connected to the team. I’m more committed than I’ve ever been to that.”
Without a win in the Premier League, without, by his own admission, having yet produced a 90-minute performance, and with fans in a downbeat mood, City are not really on the path to achieving any of Cooper’s three objectives. The manager’s comments point him and the team in the right direction but now they have to walk the walk.
But it's a far more difficult task. His words may help but fans will only truly come to believe Cooper can achieve his three aims by what they see on the pitch. Results are more important than press conferences in winning people over. Cooper is aware of that “simple solution”.
How they produce that is a tougher question. Cooper has started to go a little more in depth on his tactics, ideas, and philosophy to try to show supporters there is a blueprint the team are trying to follow, even if it’s not always evident in the performance. But even then, winning in any way possible, especially if it’s against a team like Arsenal, swings the narrative.
“There is a simple solution to this,” Cooper added. “It’s to play well and to win games. That writes the narrative on a lot of things. The more games you can win, and in the way you intend to play, with the right attitude and application, that’s the solution to this. How you do it is what you need to focus on, and it’s what we’re in control of.”
