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Steve Cooper’s insistence on starting shambolic Leicester City star played huge role in sacking

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Leicester City have sacked Steve Cooper on Sunday and the manager has nobody but himself to blame.

The Foxes returned to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming former boss Enzo Maresca back to the King Power Stadium for the first time.

Leicester City were on a dismal run of form and really needed a win to get their campaign back on track and avoid being sucked into a relegation battle.

However, things did not go to plan for the Midlands outfit, with goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez seeing Chelsea beat Leicester 2-1.

Just over 24 hours later, Leicester have sacked Steve Cooper – news that came somewhat out of the blue given previous reports regarding his future at the club.

Leicester City FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images

Wout Faes played key role in Leicester City sacking Steve Cooper

Reports just last week claimed Leicester had given Cooper a deadline to save his job, with the former Nottingham Forest boss said to have been given until the end of the calendar year to prove himself.

Claims the Foxes wanted to give the 46-year-old more time have since been backed up by journalist Jason Bourne on talkSPORT, who claimed Leicester wanted to give Cooper as long as possible.

In turn, fans may have been slightly surprised that he was sacked on Sunday. However, the defeat to Chelsea, or rather the manner in which they lost, clearly made the owners change their minds.

And when reflecting on Saturday’s match, it is clear that Wout Faes played a major role in the Cooper dismissal.

Faes was slated by Leicester fans vs Chelsea, with the centre-back an absolute calamity at the back.

He gifted Maresca’s men the opening goal and was so poor across the 90 minutes. Had Cooper not insisted on starting the Belgian – whose form has been questionable for some time – he may well still be in a job right now.

Leicester City v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

Wout Faes may be fearing for Leicester City future

The centre-back has featured in all 12 of Leicester’s Premier League games so far this season.

However, Faes has been poor for Leicester in a number of matches this season, with Chelsea one of his worst games to date.

Now, with a new manager incoming and facing the tough task of securing Premier League safety, it is hard to see Faes being offered too many chances going forward.

Conor Coady is an experienced Premier League stopper who could well see more regular playing time under a new coach in Faes’ sted.