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“I don’t want to sound like a smart-ass by saying that ‘I felt we were still in the game’, but…..”- Steve Cooper reveals the halftime team talk that inspired Leicester City’s remarkable comeback.
Leicester City staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat Southampton, with Jordan Ayew scoring a dramatic 98th-minute winner to secure the three points.
Steve Cooper was confident his team could pull off this unprecedented second-half turnaround, even as they headed into halftime trailing. Despite a lackluster first half, City proved Cooper right, completing the comeback with Ayew’s late goal.
This marked the first time Leicester has won a Premier League match after being two goals down at halftime, despite having faced that scenario 57 times before. In their famous 5-3 comeback against Manchester United a decade ago, they were only down 2-1 at the break.
Cooper believed in his team’s potential, noting their resilience in previous matches this season where they’ve trailed at halftime. “At halftime, we addressed a few things, but not too many. It was important for the players to stay united, believe in the process, and improve their performance. They did just that,” he said.
He continued, “I don’t want to come across as arrogant, but I genuinely felt we were still in the game. The players felt it too, and they went out and proved it. They were brilliant.”
This season, Leicester has consistently shown the ability to fight back, earning points against Tottenham and Everton, and nearly staging comebacks against Aston Villa and Arsenal. Cooper attributes this resilience to the strong camaraderie within the squad.
“What a testament to their togetherness,” he added. “You could see the impact the substitutes made, and even those who didn’t play celebrated as if they had. It’s essential for us. I witness their unity every day in training, and it truly shone through in the second half.”
Cooper hopes this memorable victory will resonate with supporters throughout the season. He acknowledged the fans’ dedication, noting, “I respect the effort they put into supporting us, whether through travel or finances. It was great to see them back us at the end, and I’m glad we could deliver a win for them.”
