Dean Smith admits to falling ‘a little bit short’ at Leicester as Foxes get relegated
Dean Smith faced a challenging situation when he became the manager of Leicester with only eight games left in the season. Despite winning only two of those games and drawing three, he was unable to ignite the team’s performance and prevent them from being relegated from the Premier League.
Everton’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth ensured their survival, leaving Leicester to face the drop.
“When I came here with eight games to go, I thought we probably needed 11 points. We’ve fallen two short of that with nine, and it ended up being 11 points,” a dejected Smith told Sky Sports.
“I failed on my part because I felt we needed 11 points. (In the) Leeds and Everton games, two points got away from us … I’m sure there will be a club review but it’s disappointing.”
Smith emphasized the importance of rebuilding confidence and belief in the team upon his appointment. The team appeared confident as they secured a 2-0 lead against West Ham, who were focused on their upcoming Europa Conference League final.
However, their subsequent results were inconsistent, with draws against Leeds United and Everton, a loss to Fulham, and a 3-0 defeat by Liverpool. Despite a win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, they were unable to avoid relegation, and Everton ultimately remained in the league.
“There will be a review from people who have been here all season and will understand it. Mine was a remit to come in for seven weeks and eight games and try to keep the club in the Premier League. Unfortunately, I’ve fallen a little bit short,” Smith said.
According to club captain Jonny Evans, the team will probably have a difficult time reflecting on their performance and trying to recover. Additionally, there is a possibility that several players may not return for the next season.
“You never know what way the club will see things. We will have to deal with the uncertainty. A lot of players are out of contract and I’d guess there will be a lot of changes at the club,” he told Sky Sports.
This could also be relevant to Smith, who has yet to determine what he will do in the future.
“It’s not a question for now. I’ll have to think about it. At the moment it’s raw because we’ve been relegated,” Smith said.
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