Dean Smith lays down the law by cancelling Leicester's day off following Fulham thrashing with relegation looming for his faltering Foxes - who could be FIVE points adrift of safety after Liverpool clash
- Dean Smith cancelled a day off for Leicester players after their defeat to Fulham
- Leicester could be five points adrift of safety when they play Liverpool
- Jamie Vardy says avoiding relegation would be bigger than 2016 title success
Dean Smith laid down the law to his faltering Leicester players by cancelling their day off with time running out to escape relegation.
The Foxes squad had been due a free day last Tuesday but Smith decided to haul them into the training ground after the pitiful 5-3 defeat at Fulham 24 hours earlier.
Smith’s style is usually to encourage his players to speak their minds but this time they had to keep their thoughts to themselves. Depending on results elsewhere, Leicester could be five points adrift of safety when they face Liverpool on April 15.
‘You can’t change what’s happened but you can learn from it, correct it and move on quickly,’ said Smith. ‘There was no point us worrying about the Fulham game for two or three more days. I wanted to get it put to bed.
‘Players normally have their say in meetings but this time I did the talking and told them what I expected in certain situations of the Fulham game, and what we will do better in future.’
![Dean Smith cancelled a day off for Leicester players following their defeat to Fulham](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/20/70922943-12078279-image-a-1_1683918648484.jpg)
Dean Smith cancelled a day off for Leicester players following their defeat to Fulham
![But the club have struggled greatly this season and are in a fight to avoid relegation](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/20/70923041-12078279-image-a-13_1683918748941.jpg)
Relegation-threatened Leicester suffered a 5-3 defeat against Fulham on Monday
![Smith will be expecting a response from his Leicester players when they take on Liverpool](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/05/12/20/70923159-12078279-image-a-15_1683918932410.jpg)
Smith will be expecting a response from his Leicester players when they take on Liverpool
Leicester midfielder James Maddison said after the collapse at Craven Cottage that his team had not been ‘hungry enough to want to win the game’.
He then tried to clarify the remarks on social media and Smith was quick to defend them.
‘It’s always hard for players after matches, they’re emotional when they are asked questions,’ he said.
‘None of the players want to be in the position we find ourselves in. They’re searching for answers themselves and to hopefully appease the supporters. All the lads care, they just show it in different ways.’
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