Ruud van Nistelrooy was encouraged by Leicester City’s recent performance even if it ended in defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Leicester lost 1-0 against Chelsea on Sunday, which ultimately handed them their 12th defeat in 13 league matches.
But despite the result, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s change in system to a three man defence with wing-backs worked a treat.
Luke Thomas was outstanding as a left wing-back, while James Justin also impressed against Chelsea, with the Dutchman’s experiment paying off.
Up until their visit to West London, Van Nistelrooy rarely deviated away from his 4-2-3-1 formation, the one that was implemented by Steve Cooper.
However, the return of one Leicester star has allowed him to alter the system.
Ruud van Nistelrooy on Ricardo Pereira’s impact
Ricardo Pereira’s return to the pitch on Sunday was greeted by a huge roar from the Leicester fans, who have missed him greatly during his absence.
Pereira was injured against Manchester United in November, with the Portuguese full-back suffering over three months on the sidelines.
- READ MORE: Ricardo Pereira posts emotional Instagram message after long-awaited Leicester City return
It was brilliant to see him come onto the field at the weekend, even if it was just for the final five minutes, and Van Nistelrooy has now praised his impact.
The Dutchman’s above comments suggest the 31-year-old being available has inspired him to make a change in system, accommodating his attacking qualities, and Pereira should now start against Manchester United.
Pereira can be a difference-maker for Leicester
In a system that requires wing-backs to push high and make contributions, it’s important the players on either flank are attacking enough.
Justin doesn’t tick that box, whereas the strongest part of Pereira’s game is driving forward with the ball and creating chances for his teammates.
Last season, Pereira was a player reborn under Enzo Maresca, and the Portuguese star flourished as an inverted full-back, as demonstrated by his brilliant attacking metrics
| Ricardo Pereira Championship stats 2023/24 | Statistic | Percentile rank vs Champ defenders |
| Non-penalty goals per 90 | 0.08 | Top 20% |
| Shot-creating actions per 90 | 2.47 | Top 16% |
| Pass completion | 90.3% | Top 1% |
| Tackles per 90 | 2.88 | Top 14% |
| Progressive passes per 90 | 5.08 | Top 16% |
Pereira was a class above his positional peers in the second tier, and he can play a vital role in Leicester’s season yet, even if they don’t stay up.