Youri Tielemans According to boss remains committed to Leicester’s fight for survival Dean Smith.
The foxes are two points away from safety ahead of Monday’s critical visit. Liverpool as time is running out to save Premier League skins.
Captain Tielemans’ contract expires in the summer with the club, which has been trying to persuade him to sign a new deal for the past two years.
The midfielder is expected to leave on a free transfer, but Smith has rejected all suggestions that he is not committed to keeping the Foxes afloat.
“I’m completely comfortable with his commitment, I’ve seen nothing but a dedicated player on and around the training ground and on the field,” he said.
“You must remember the first game we played against Man City, he was coming back from a five or six week injury but he was committed to playing that game to get back as fast as he could.
“He’s still catching up a bit, but he has the qualities we need in the team.
“I’m very good at reading people and as soon as I meet Youri you know that football means a lot to him, and it means a lot to Cags (The Robber) when I look into his eyes and to him.”
The Foxes were teased at the break of their 5-3 loss as they were down 3-0 at Fulham on Monday, but Smith insisted his entire team had to deal with the criticism.
“I heard the fan reaction at halftime and I understood that, but I didn’t go beyond that. Football is about opinions and always has been, one’s favorite player will be another’s unfavourite, and that is football.
“Unfortunately, as actors, you have to deal with people’s opinions, and that’s their job.”
Nottingham Forest and Leeds are tied against Chelsea and Newcastle respectively, while Everton’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City means a win over Liverpool will knock Foxes out of the last three.
“I think they[players]know the position they’re in, and they’ve been doing it since the moment we got here,” Smith said. “We reminded them of that to keep us in the Premier League and that’s why we’re here.
“The players are very aware of that and I think the perception is always different from what I see on the training ground from day to day. What I see every day is a group of players who care.”
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