Leicester City have struggled for creativity this season, particularly on the wings, and fans are confused why Steve Cooper won’t play Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu together.
Last season’s Championship-winning campaign saw Mavididi and Fatawu blossom on either side of the wing, regularly chipping in with goals or assists – ending the 2024/25 season with 37 contributions between them.
Their pace was frightening for full-backs but under Steve Cooper, the two have been on the pitch at the same time for only half an hour.
It’s a move that has even seen some supporters booing at the King Power Stadium.
Steve Cooper’s tactics hinder Leicester City stars
According to Leicestershire Live’s Jordan Blackwell, the biggest reason why Mavididi and Fatawu haven’t started together this season is tactical.
Unlike previous boss Enzo Maresca, Cooper would much rather play in the middle of the pitch, using two defensive-minded midfielders, the number 10, and then one of the wingers who is comfortable coming in on the inside of the pitch.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Jordan Ayew, and most recently Facundo Buonanotte have all been tried and tested in the role, with Cooper seeing Fatawu and Mavididi as players who are at their best when they stay out wide.
On the side of the winger who moves inside, the full-back will be the attacking player. For the first three games that was Victor Kristiansen, but more recently, that has changed to James Justin, who has the license to get forward when the Foxes are attacking.
Steve Cooper explains the tactical decision that has left Leicester City fans confused
Cooper’s tactics haven’t been a hit it’s fair to say.
Leicester are still yet to win a top-flight season and fans are becoming more and more impatient, with the Foxes achieving the unwanted record of being a part of the first newly promoted teams that have failed to win any of their opening six games in over 20 years.
Explaining how he tries to set his sides up earlier in the season, the Leicester manager said: “You try to identify hotspots on the pitch against an opponent that you can capitalise on.
“Sometimes that’s stopping their strengths, sometimes it’s exploiting their weaknesses. Whether that’s a high winger on the right or on the left, or a certain profile in midfield, that’s the role of coaching.
“And also, if players play well and they’re in good form. Stephy’s come in and scored two. His goal return’s good at the moment, so we also want to see which players are playing well and continue to push them to improve even more. That is all part of the jigsaw we try to put together for a game.”
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