Exclusive: Patson Daka Backs Van Nistelrooy and Opens Up About His Future at Leicester

Battling relegation with Leicester City and playing under a new manager, Zambian forward Patson Daka speaks in this exclusive interveiw, reflecting on the emotional weight of the season, the influence of Ruud van Nistelrooy, and how his African roots continue to shape his values on and off the pitch.

Ruud’s Reign

With Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy stepping into the Leicester dugout mid-season, the club has undergone a major tactical and emotional reset. While results have yet to reflect the transformation, Daka is quick to praise the new manager’s impact.

“He’s made everyone understand the direction he wants us to be in. He’s given us the plan and the push to be more confident, he knows the quality in the room. He’s also helped us understand that we have to just do our thing, get back to the basics,” Daka shared.  

“He’s leading us based on the direction he wants us to go, and we’re heading in that direction. Slowly but steadily, we’ll get there.”

Though Leicester remain stuck at 19th on the table, Daka’s conviction reflects a squad not resigned to fate, but rather, one still believing in a comeback.

Pressure is part of the Game

The stakes are sky-high. With the Foxes teetering on the edge of relegation, every match carries immense weight. Still, Daka has developed a healthy relationship with pressure; one forged through experience and perspective.

“Well, it’s not even just about how the season began, pressure is always there. It will always be there,” he said.  

“If you’re winning, there’s pressure for you to keep winning. If you’re not, there’s pressure to start. The most important thing is to rise above it; you don’t have to let it define you.”

But how do they manage that tension in such a trying campaign?

“We know the quality that’s in the team. It’s just about making sure we follow what the manager asks of us, sticking together, going back to the basics, and enjoying the game. That’s what Ruud tells us,” he added.  

“We have to enjoy football. This is what we chose to do. We have to love and enjoy what we’re doing, knowing that we've got our backs. Following, and fighting for one another... that helps us a lot. So we don’t have to be so worried. Whether pressure is there or not, we just have to focus on every game and play our game.”

The values that ground him

Walk into the Leicester dressing room and four words greet you on the floor: Courage. Unity. Responsibility. Respect. 

For Patson Daka, those aren’t just club slogans; they echo the foundational principles of his upbringing in Zambia.

“Growing up I was taught by my family that if you want to live with others, you have to learn to be responsible for your own actions because every action has consequences,” he said.  

“Respect is one of the core values where I come from. You have to know how to live with other people. You must show respect to everyone.”

Eyes on the future: Is a move on the Horizon?

With Leicester’s fate still undecided, questions naturally loom about what comes next for Daka. He’s drawn interest across Europe in previous windows, and as the season winds down, speculation swirls once more.

So, what does next season look like for the Zambian star?

“Right now, I’m just focused on helping the team. I’m committed to the club and doing everything I can to help us get out of this situation,” Daka told SportsBoom.com. 

“Of course, in football you never know what tomorrow holds. But I’m here, and I believe in what we’re building. That’s all that matters for me at the moment.”