Published: 09:28, August 21, 2024
Cooper pleased with Leicester's 'positive start' on Premier League return
By Reuters
Leicester City's Welsh manager Steve Cooper looks on during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Tottenham Forest at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Aug 19, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

Manager Steve Cooper said Leicester City's 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Monday was a promising start to their Premier League return after a year away but reminded his players that only wins will satisfy the club's fan base.

Spurs dominated the first half and took the lead through Pedro Porro in the 29th minute before Leicester, Premier League champions in the 2015/16 season, equalized through 37-year-old Jamie Vardy's header in the 57th minute.

Leicester were relegated to the Championship last season, bringing an end to their nine-year run in the English top flight.

ALSO READ: Veteran Vardy earns Leicester point against wasteful Spurs

"There’s a lot going on behind the team which will help and all of those things going on, there were bound to be some nerves and anxiety," Cooper said after the game.

Leicester City's English striker #09 Jamie Vardy (left) heads the ball past Tottenham Hotspur's Italian goalkeeper #01 Guglielmo Vicario for their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Tottenham Forest at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Aug 19, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

"We had some really good moments against them in the second half. We became a really difficult opponent ... It was a fairly positive start, but we want to be winning games.

"We’ve won many games over the years here and Leicester fans will be used to that, but we’ve got to recreate that.

"This is a Premier League football club, but we’ve got to become a Premier League team again – that’s the aim.”

READ MORE: Leicester promoted back to Premier League as Leeds humbled at QPR

Leicester visit Fulham in their next Premier League match on Saturday.