Leicester City players Conor Coady and Harry Winks found themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after being seen partying at a Danish nightclub mere hours after their team’s 2-1 home loss to Chelsea.
The incident coincided with the dismissal of manager Steve Cooper, whose departure was confirmed the next day following a string of poor performances.
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet released footage of Coady and Winks enjoying themselves at Museo nightclub in Copenhagen on Saturday night.
The pair, along with several other teammates, were seen singing along to Kanye West’s All of the Lights in what appeared to be a festive atmosphere.
Adding to the intrigue, Winks was filmed capturing a digital sign that read: “Enzo I miss u”.
The message is widely interpreted as a nod to former Leicester manager Enzo Maresca, now at Chelsea, who had returned to the King Power Stadium earlier that day to lead his new team to victory.
Winks, who thrived under Maresca’s leadership during Leicester’s promotion-winning campaign last season, has previously spoken glowingly about his former boss.
In an interview before Maresca’s move to Chelsea, Winks had praised him as “by far the best manager I’ve worked for” and predicted he would rise to the top of the managerial world.
The heartfelt sign may have been meant as a playful gesture, but the timing has drawn criticism given Leicester’s precarious position in the Premier League.
The loss to Chelsea proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Steve Cooper’s tenure at Leicester.
The Foxes currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, with just two wins from their opening 12 matches. Cooper’s dismissal reflects the mounting pressure on the team to turn their season around.
The timing of the players’ trip, reportedly planned as their Christmas party, has drawn backlash from fans and pundits alike. Many question the optics of celebrating abroad while their club faces serious struggles both on and off the pitch.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions among Leicester supporters. Some fans view the nightclub outing as unprofessional given the team’s dire situation, while others see it as a harmless attempt to build team morale.
Coady and Winks have yet to address the situation publicly, and Leicester City have not released a statement regarding the incident.
As Leicester searches for a new manager to steer them away from the relegation zone, the players’ actions have added another layer of drama to an already tumultuous period.
Whether the night out in Copenhagen will serve as a minor blip or fuel further scrutiny remains to be seen.
The club’s next match could serve as a critical moment for redemption, both on the pitch and in restoring the faith of their supporters. For now, the focus remains on finding a path forward amidst the chaos.