sportbible
BILAL EL KHANNOUSS believes that the players of Leicester are undoubtedly motivated by the influence of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Foxes head into today’s home match against Brighton after a crucial 3-1 win over West Ham on Tuesday.
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El Khannouss, aged 20, celebrated his inaugural Premier League goal, adding to Van Nistelrooy’s impressive start during his ongoing Leicester career.
Even though the attacking midfielder might not have been old enough to witness Van Nistelrooy’s prime, he recognizes excellence when he sees it.
El Khannouss mentioned that the Foxes took the Dutchman’s encouraging words to heart ahead of his debut match at the King Power Stadium.
He shared: “He was straightforward from the start about how he wanted us to perform.
“In training, he said, ‘Alright team, we haven’t practiced much — we’ve only had one day together. But today, you must play with your hearts. Show the fans new sides of yourselves.’ That’s what we aimed for.”
The Moroccan international could not have envisioned playing under the iconic Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Van Nistelrooy when he transitioned from Genk for £20 million under the previous management of Steve Cooper.
He acknowledged: “I was too young to see him play.
“But I’ve watched highlights — I knew who he was. When Ruud enters the room for the first time — and he stands in front of you — you can instantly feel his aura.
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“He’s been an exceptional player. We truly listen to him.”
After scoring his first league goal for Leicester, El Khannouss is determined to replicate that achievement when Brighton visits the King Power Stadium today.
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He expressed: “Scoring in the premier league was an amazing experience. It’s a dream come true and hopefully just the beginning of something great — I’m excited to net more.”
El Khannouss had only made three league starts under Cooper, who was let go two weeks ago after overseeing just 12 league matches.
However, he did his homework before joining Leicester, consulting some Moroccan teammates prior to his transfer from Belgium.
He mentioned: “Players like Hakim Ziyech, who played here for Chelsea, and Nayef Aguerd from West Ham, they understand that this league is very competitive.
“I also spoke with Romain Saiss, who played for Wolves. They’re all happy for my arrival. I sought their advice before stepping onto the pitch here.
“They told me I was joining a fantastic club with great fans in an excellent city, and that I would thrive here.
“I wouldn’t just join any club, especially not one led by some reckless manager — you need to gather insights!”
El Khannouss is fluent in five languages and is currently picking up Spanish as a sixth. He believes this is essential for effective communication with his teammates.
He noted: “In the dressing room, I can talk with Boubakary Soumare in French and Wout Faes in Dutch.
“Learning Spanish also allows me to interact with Facundo Buonanotte. That’s simply who I am.
“Football in the UK is outstanding; it’s deeply embedded in the culture. The stadiums are fantastic, and you can feel it’s something remarkable.
“I’ve been adjusting for two or three months. That phase is complete, and now it’s time to perform.”
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