Questions answered following Leicester City’s 2-0 defeat to Norwich, with a protest held before the game, with Enzo Maresca watching on, and with Jordan James making his return
Jordan Blackwell
16:19, 02 Mar 2026
Leicester City fans call for King Power to sell up before the defeat to Norwich(Image: Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
That’s nine games without a win in the Championship, 29 without a clean sheet, and now even the hope generated by back-to-back away draws has been sucked out of Leicester City by their defeat to Norwich.
They remain in the relegation zone and with 11 games left to save themselves. Here, we tackle some of the big questions around the club.
Will the protest achieve its aim?
In terms of the objective of getting King Power out, no, I don’t think it will.
The protest movement seems to be growing and it is drawing national attention, getting a few mentions on Sky Sports during their coverage of Saturday’s game.
But the aim of forcing the owners to sell is unrealistic. The chairman, Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, has been clear in sense of duty to City, saying he would not consider departing while the club is at a low ebb.
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A cynical response to that would be that it’s because he can’t sell for a significant amount while the club are where they are, but he did come across as sincere when he spoke about his love for City in his round of interviews in January.
However, there seems to be a sense of understanding among some of the protesting fans that it is an unlikely goal.
But while there is an argument that they should set their sights on something more achievable, it could also be said that they should push for what they believe is right, no matter how idealistic.
Arguably, some of the concerns and gripes brought up in protests, chants, banners and statements from fan groups over the past 12 months have led to change, even if they’re minor, with the hierarchy reshuffled to bring in a sporting director and with the chairman conducting a first interview with British media in a decade.
Those may feel like only incremental steps towards what the protesting supporters have called for, but it’s a sign, perhaps, that making noise can lead to action.
Will dissenting fans affect the players?
Even with the pre-match protest, it felt like the fans were willing to get behind the players and Gary Rowett on Saturday and to try to shout them to victory. But the players didn’t serve up anything meaningful for the fans to build a proper atmosphere.
Because of how City’s season is going, mistakes are more likely to lead to negativity in the stands. Maybe that is causing trepidation among the players. Maybe the anticipation of a moan, groan or a boo is causing them to freeze.
Booing players onto the pitch, like with Jordan Ayew, doesn’t feel like it’s going to be productive, although it could be said that if any player in the squad should be able to shrug that offer, it is a 34-year-old veteran of the game.
Maybe away games will be easier, then, and the players will be able to play with greater freedom. However, that’s not really ideal.
City’s next three home games, against Bristol City, QPR and Preston, are all against mid-table sides in stumbling form. Ordinarily, those would be the perfect fixtures for a relegation battler.
However, I do believe that if Rowett can get the players to shrug off those restrictions and play with more freedom, more energy and more endeavour, then the crowd will react positively, even if they’re not happy with the running of the club.
Why was Enzo Maresca at the game on Saturday?
In short, because he asked. Out of work since January, the former City boss has got empty weekends at the moment. He asked if he, Willy Caballero and Danny Walker could return to the King Power Stadium as spectators and the club were happy to host.
Despite the nature of his exit, with the club expressing their disappointment over Maresca decision’s to join Chelsea, I think there’s still a healthy relationship between the Italian and the City board, while he spoke warmly about the club during the games against Chelsea last season.
The whole thing seems fairly harmless. If he’d turned up during Steve Cooper’s reign, then that may have been a different story.
Ricardo Pereira of Leicester City is challenged by Paris Maghoma of Norwich City(Image: Getty Images)
Are City doomed to relegation?
I can understand why supporters may feel like that after Saturday. It really was a poor showing, with practically all of the positives seen in Rowett’s first two games stripped away.
But, I do think it’s important to recognise how good Norwich have been under Philippe Clement, especially since the turn of the year. They’re in top spot in a table for 2026, so as far as form goes, this was one of the toughest games City are likely to have over the final few months.
Plus, City were saved from an awful weekend by every one of their relegation rivals bar Oxford losing. It’s not as if they are being cut adrift.
Although, Oxford’s win does mean they are well back in the battle at the bottom, and now it feels like it’s two from six, rather than one from five.
That’s a concern as there’s really only one side City feel like they’re in better shape than at the moment, and that’s West Brom. City at least have a manager, have more points this calendar year, and have better players than the Baggies. That’s hardly a confidence booster, though.
So no, City are not doomed yet. But given the course of the past few months, it wouldn’t be a surprise if there were supporters completely sapped of hope of survival.
Where does Jordan James fit into the starting line-up?
This is a tricky one. James has been City’s best player this season, so it feels like he must start now he’s fit again. But there isn’t an obvious hole for him.
He replaced Divine Mukasa at the weekend, but that was the wrong decision in my eyes. Mukasa probably had his weakest game so far, but already the Man City loanee looks like he has the creativity to unlock defences and get the best out of his fellow attackers. As a combination, James and Mukasa could be lethal.
That means taking out one of Oliver Skipp or Harry Winks, then. Rowett has said, with the players at his disposal and with the defensive record as it is, that City’s best approach to restricting the opposition right now is to keep the ball. Nobody in the squad is better at that than Winks.
But does Winks do enough out of possession? It’s traditionally been a weakness in his game, although there have been some matches recently – granted, not Norwich – where he’s done his fair share of defensive work.
Plus, the argument for playing Skipp and James together is a strong one given they were the midfield partnership during some of City’s better performances this season, like the home game against Ipswich, plus the first halves at Derby and Coventry.
What about a more unconventional decision? Mukasa has played as a false nine for Man City, so perhaps James could replace Patson Daka and sit behind Mukasa, looking to get beyond him. Although, Daka’s ability to press can be effective in getting City the ball back, even if it’s just to rush defenders.
If James comes in for Winks, Skipp or Daka this weekend, that would be justifiable. But it would feel like a negative move if he was to replace Mukasa.
Who should Jordan James replace against Ipswich?
Who should Jordan James replace against Ipswich
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