Steve Cooper Addresses Player Fitness, Manchester United Clash, and Cup Aspirations

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper addressed reporters ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture against Manchester United, scheduled for a 19:45 GMT kick-off. The following are the main points from his press briefing: Jannik Vestergaard is cleared for selection, having recovered from what was described as “a bit of a setback” concerning his ankle injury. Regarding Viktor Kristiansen’s groin injury, it is “not as bad as thought.” Cooper stated, “At least it will be a matter of days or weeks, as opposed to longer than that.” Cooper indicated that he might make alterations to his squad, citing the team’s schedule of two away matches this week. He remarked, “We have another game at Ipswich on Saturday. It is times like this where it is good to have a squad. We will need to utilise it over the week.” He further emphasized that the team’s “full focus” remains on approaching “one game at a time.” Addressing Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, Cooper commented, “You always applaud managers when they do well and feel sorry for them when there is criticism or they lose their job – that’s how I feel about Erik. It is never nice to see. I wish him well and I’m sure he will bounce back as and when he feels ready.” He stated that Manchester United’s current managerial circumstances would not alter his team’s strategy. Cooper explained, “We won’t overthink it. If you do, you can end up going loads of places that might be miles away from what it ends up being. It is a really good chance to show how good your own work is. There is even more reason to focus on ourselves. We have got to make sure we take that opportunity.” Cooper acknowledged that their adversaries possess “real quality” across the field. He elaborated, “They have got players that can really change moments from nothing to something, whether it be through their athleticism or talent. We get that in every game we play in the Premier League, but it is an away game so that can influence it as well.” The team continues to integrate the “tweaks and ideas” he has introduced since assuming his role. Cooper stated, “We just want to become a really strong and competitive Premier League team. That comes with time and delivering when it counts. You have to be seen to be making progress, even when the results aren’t what you want. We will have more good days than bad days when we get our identity and our way right.” Cooper expressed that he would “love” for his team to achieve a “really good cup run,” noting the “so many good things to be gained” from such an experience. He affirmed, “It is what we all want. If we can do it, then we can get even more excited. You have to plan to win every single game. We back ourselves.”