Woyo Coulibaly’s first full Leicester City debut ended at halftime, and he may find it difficult to secure a spot on the bench once the team’s other right-backs are back in action.
Woyo Coulibaly’s first Leicester City start lasted just 45 minutes, as he was substituted after receiving a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Brentford’s Christian Norgaard. Despite showing attacking promise, his inexperience and recklessness led to his removal, with manager Ruud van Nistelrooy explaining the decision was to avoid the risk of a second yellow and playing with 10 men.
However, Coulibaly’s struggles didn’t end there. He was left out of the squad entirely for the next game against West Ham, with James Justin reclaiming his starting spot. This omission highlights Leicester’s transfer challenges, as Coulibaly, their only January signing, has failed to make an impact. The lack of game-changing additions in January, unlike the transformative loan of Robert Huth a decade ago, has left the team in a precarious position.
Van Nistelrooy does have one potential ‘addition’ to look forward to: Ricardo Pereira. The Portuguese right-back has returned to full training after a four-month injury layoff and could soon be back in contention. Ricardo’s return offers hope, as his ability to play as an inverted full-back could allow Leicester to adopt a more balanced system, similar to the one used successfully under Enzo Maresca last season.
While it’s unfair to expect Ricardo to single-handedly turn the season around, his versatility and experience could provide a much-needed boost. With Leicester’s current form struggling, experimenting with Ricardo in an inverted role could be the key to unlocking a more effective style of play.
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