Premier League boss already ‘facing dressing room issues’ just three games into the new season

Leicester manager Steve Cooper is reportedly facing dressing room issues just three games into the Premier League season.

Cooper took over at the King Power Stadium in the summer after previous boss Enzo Maresca left for Chelsea.

The Welshman had previously spent one-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, having guided them to promotion from the Championship in the 2021/22 campaign.

He was hugely well-respected among supporters at the City Ground, with many siding with him over the club’s board even after he was sacked last season.

Cooper gained a strong reputation through his coaching of England academy sides, and had two largely successful seasons with Swansea before leaving the club by mutual consent in June 2021.

Under the 44-year-old, Leicester have picked up one point from their opening three Premier League games and sit in 15th place.

But according to The Sun, Cooper has already encountered some dressing room issues at the King Power Stadium.

It is claimed that Foxes players are struggling to adapt to Cooper’s management style, which is hands-off compared to the more authoritarian approach used by Maresca.

The report also adds that some players have been left ‘nonplussed’ by Cooper asking for their input into tactical decisions and potential signings – with the previous regime telling them ‘exactly what to do in almost every aspect of the game’.

Getty

It is claimed that Cooper is ‘relaxed’ about the current situation and accepts that more time is required to form better relationships with the players.

There is said to be ‘no tension’ between the manager and his players, while Maresca was also not seen as universally popular.

The Italian did guide Leicester to promotion to the top flight last season, but they placed 11th in the Championship form table over the final 15 games of the campaign.

That led to Foxes fans raising questions about Maresca’s ability to adapt to spells of poor form, but Leicester recovered and won promotion with a comfortable 3-0 away win at Preston North End.

Cooper appeared to address the claims in his pre-match press conference on Friday, telling reporters that he did in fact have the full backing of the players.

He said: “You can’t be narrow-minded enough to not see beyond the results. Some parts of our performances have been good.

“The players are on board, and we give them a voice. We need to do even more to deliver even more.”