Who’s out first in the sack race?
Rodgers and Cooper fight for survival in huge clash of early back-markers
BRENDAN RODGERS and Steve Cooper are two of the best British coaches in the business — yet both know that defeat tonight would leave their positions in great danger.
With Leicester City chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha due to attend his first game since the home defeat by Southampton on August 20, Rodgers will be under scrutiny like never before during his three-and-a-half years as manager.
Lose this derby to Nottingham Forest and it will be one point from eight games for the Foxes. It is hard to see how the former Celtic boss survives a run like that in the long term.
In the other dugout, Cooper’s circumstances look just as precarious. The Welshman was probably the manager of the season in England last term, as he took over in September when Forest were bottom of the Championship and led them to promotion via the play-offs.
Yet even delivering Forest’s first top-flight campaign this century may not buy Cooper time. Seven matches and 22 signings later, his future is uncertain. Owner Evangelos Marinakis has employed six permanent managers since taking control of Forest in 2017, and has already shown a ruthless streak this season.
He hired Carlos Corberan to coach Greek giants Olympiacos — Marinakis’s other club — on August 1. On September 18 and after only 11 competitive fixtures, the former Huddersfield manager was sacked. Cooper will have noticed.
‘I speak to the owner after most games and conversations have been normal,’ said Cooper. ‘There’s been no change. They probably feel the same as me — some disappointment in the previous few games. We’ve signed a lot of players and it’s a tough challenge to become the team we want to be.’
Cooper and Rodgers were briefly at Liverpool together between 2012-13, when Rodgers was manager and Cooper the Under-18s coach. The pair respect one another and Rodgers understands the task Cooper faces.
‘It’s always difficult that first year back in the Premier League,’ said the 49-year-old Northern Irishman, who led Swansea City to the top flight in 2011. ‘Steve has done a brilliant job to get them in the Premier League. To then create a cohesive unit and a team with so many new faces is a challenge.’
Leicester’s owners are measured by nature and chose not to remove Rodgers — who has an eight-figure compensation clause in his contract — after heavy defeats at Brighton and Tottenham before the international break. But their patience is not infinite and the hierarchy have been pondering a post-Rodgers future. They admire Brentford boss Thomas Frank, with former Burnley boss Sean Dyche and Norwich City manager Dean Smith also possible contenders.
Midlands rivals Wolves’ sacking of Bruno Lage yesterday could also have a ripple effect.
The atmosphere among Leicester’s players has not become as bad as it was in the final days of Claudio Ranieri’s tenure, or Claude Puel’s. And Rodgers is confident in his ability to turn things around.
‘Believe it or not, it’s easy (to block out the noise),’ he said. ‘You learn to regulate it. If you’re bottom of the league, you’re not going to be flavour of the month. I love working with these players. I believe we will come good and get into a good position.
‘I see these players work and that gives me strength. I also know I’m the best person to lead this team forward and that’s something we will do in the coming weeks.’
Where Rodgers has lamented the lack of transfer activity at Leicester, who signed only one outfield player this summer, Cooper’s problem is that there has been too much.
A recruitment drive at the City Ground was essential after five loan players did not return, while a further 14 departed either permanently or on loan.
The number of new signings has, however, left 42-year-old Cooper and his staff playing catch-up as they try to work out their strongest team in the heat of Premier League battle. Forest have played well in attack at times on their return to the top flight but have also looked seriously vulnerable at the back.
They were beaten at home in consecutive games by fellow newly-promoted sides Bournemouth and Fulham despite taking the lead in both matches.
‘The two defeats in the games before the international break were not good but it’s part of the challenge and we’ve got to work hard now to put things right,’ said Cooper.
Leicester have the squad to pull themselves out of trouble and, if Forest’s new signings click, then they should improve, too.
The question now, of course, is whether Brendan Rodgers and Steve Cooper will still be there to see it through.