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- Nigerian international powers Van Nistelrooy to early glory.
- Leicester City’s fans are full of praise for the 27 years old midfielder
Image source: The Guardian
For the match-going fans at the King Power Stadium yesterday, it came as no surprise that Wilfred Ndidi was named the Premier League’s official man of the match after the game between Leicester and West Ham.
The match, played on Tuesday under the light, was Leicester City’s first game and first win under new coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The major talking point after the game was how quickly Ruud seemed to have turned the clubs fortune around. An impressive victory over the Hammers meant they had suddenly turned to the right direction after an uninspiring run of form. Most of the players were outstanding throughout the game, but one player that had fans cheering throughout the game was the Nigerian midfielder. Although he didn’t score or assist, Ndidi’s remarkable defensive contribution throughout the 90 minutes were the main highlights of the night.
Ndidi showed an outstanding ability to break up opposition play, therefore shielding his team’s defence. His efforts were the spine upon which the team built its shape. You’d expect that this blameless performance would earn him high accolades from the club’s hierarchy. But somehow, his name was left off Leicester City’s MOTM nominees. The list, which included Mads Hermansen, Kasey McAteer and Bilal El Khannouss who registered a goal and assist, sparked frustration among fans. Different social media spaces were flooded with comments from fans registering their displeasure on the list. Many of the comments showered praises on Ndidi, explaining how his heroics won Leicester the match even without any direct goal contributions.
Ndidi’s performance was a reminder of the quality and stability he can bring to the Foxes when fully fit. After seeing such a spirited performance, Van Nistelrooy will be hoping the Nigerian international reaches and stays at his best, considering how influential he can be to the team as they chase resurgence.
The people in charge of these selections might have snubbed him, but we can’t. We saw an impressive performance that brought back memories of what the 27 years old midfielder can do at his best. We’ll see how far he can maintain this standard throughout Van Nistelrooy’s reign and maybe beyond.
