Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy hailed Jamie Vardy as the driving force behind his team’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Brighton, acknowledging that the comeback wouldn’t have been possible without the veteran forward. The Foxes appeared to be heading for defeat after Brighton took a commanding 2-0 lead with goals from Tariq Lamptey and Yankuba Minteh. However, Vardy demonstrated his enduring value, scoring in the 86th minute before providing a crucial assist to Bobby De Cordova-Reid for the equalizer in the 90th minute.
Van Nistelrooy was full of praise for Vardy, stating, “When you score and provide an assist, it’s clear that this result wouldn’t have happened without him. But it’s a team effort that puts him in those positions.” The Leicester boss also acknowledged the importance of the build-up play, highlighting that the team worked together to create the opportunity. He added, “Jamie’s awareness for the second goal was exceptional. Strikers usually focus on scoring, but his composure to make the assist to Bobby, especially so late in the game, was a brilliant piece of skill.”
The Leicester manager further noted the significance of Vardy’s calmness in high-pressure moments, saying, “If Jamie hadn’t passed the ball, he might have taken the shot himself. But he made sure we got that goal, and that’s why having players like him is so important.” Van Nistelrooy expressed his satisfaction with the team’s response and Vardy’s decisive contribution.
On the other hand, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler felt the result was a major setback for his side. Despite dominating for most of the match and holding a 2-0 lead, Brighton failed to secure the win, marking the second time this season they have squandered a two-goal advantage late in the game. Hurzeler was critical of his team’s inability to see out the victory, saying, “When you’re 2-0 up and in control, you can’t let things slip away in just 10 minutes. We’ve made easy mistakes and have been punished for it, and it’s happened too often this season.”
The Brighton boss emphasized the need for better game management, particularly in the closing stages of matches. “We need to be more mature in those critical moments,” Hurzeler explained. “If we handle the final five or six minutes better, these kinds of things won’t happen again.”
