Former Leicester City Player Slams ‘Unprofessional’ Squad Ahead of Crucial Portsmouth Clash
As Leicester City prepare for a high-stakes trip to Fratton Park this Saturday, former winger and BBC Radio Leicester pundit Matt Piper has launched a scathing critique of the team’s current mentality. With only four games remaining in the season, Piper argues that a fundamental lack of grit and pride is driving the 2016 Premier League champions toward a disastrous relegation to the third tier.
A Stark Contrast in Spirit
The Foxes head into the lunchtime kick-off in a dire position, sitting second from bottom and five points adrift of safety. Their opponents, Portsmouth, bolstered their own survival hopes with a midweek victory over Ipswich Town, extending their lead over Leicester to seven points.
Piper suggests that the difference between the two sides isn’t talent, but temperament. He noted that while struggling teams like Portsmouth and Oxford United are showing “fight and determination,” the Leicester players appear to have lost their resolve. Reflecting on the team’s recent collapse against Swansea, Piper expressed dismay at the squad’s tendency to fold under pressure. “You get a goal scored against you… and you just give up,” he stated. “That is not professional sport.”
The Cost of Underachievement
The statistical decline of the club is staggering. Under Gary Rowett, the Foxes have managed just one win in ten matches. Despite a squad value estimated at approximately £162 million—a figure that dwarfs Portsmouth’s £6.9 million roster—Leicester has collected only two league wins in 2026.
Even accounting for a six-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules and the mid-season sacking of Marti Cifuentes, Piper insists the players must take responsibility for the “disaster” of a season. He highlighted that while the club has seen poor squads in the past, those players still played with maximum effort—something he feels is missing from the current crop of Premier League-caliber talent.
Key Context for Saturday’s Match:
- The Standings: Leicester is 23rd in the Championship, five points from the safety zone.
- The History: The teams drew 1-1 in October; at that time, Leicester was 4th in the table.
- The Stakes: A defeat at Fratton Park would leave the Foxes facing their first return to the third tier since the 2008-09 season.
Fratton Park Awaits
While Rowett remains unbeaten on the road since taking charge, he faces a hostile atmosphere at Fratton Park. Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has already called on the home faithful to replicate the intense support seen during their win against Ipswich. For Leicester, Saturday represents more than just a search for points; it is a test of whether the “talented individuals” described by Piper can finally display the professional character required to save their club.
