As the 2024/25 Premier League season nears its conclusion, there’s a growing sense of inevitability around the futures of both Wolves and Leicester City — though they appear headed in very different directions. While Wolves aren’t quite mathematically safe, it would take an extraordinary collapse to drag them back into the relegation scrap. In contrast, Leicester City’s return to the Championship seems all but sealed, with the Foxes spiraling toward one of the most disappointing relegations in recent Premier League memory.
Wolves’ campaign under Vítor Pereira has been a case of quiet revolution. It hasn’t been without its struggles, but since his appointment, Pereira has instilled a renewed sense of structure, discipline, and belief into a side that looked directionless earlier in the season. The moment that many now view as the turning point came in late December, when Wolves thrashed Leicester City 3-0 at the King Power Stadium. That performance was emphatic, dominant, and signaled the beginning of an upward curve for Wolves — but for Leicester, it was the start of a catastrophic slide.
That defeat kicked off a historically bad run for the Foxes. The numbers are staggering: eight consecutive home defeats, zero goals scored, and 22 goals conceded. That kind of form isn’t just relegation-level — it’s historically poor. No team in Premier League history has endured a home run quite so bleak, and it’s hard to overstate the psychological toll it must be taking on the players, management, and fans alike.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s tenure, which began with cautious optimism, has quickly descended into chaos. Appointed in November after Steve Cooper was dismissed, the former Manchester United striker was seen as a bold, high-profile choice — someone who could rally a faltering squad and guide them to safety. But he’s been unable to stop the rot. In fact, the club’s fortunes have worsened under his leadership, with Leicester now looking like a team entirely devoid of confidence, creativity, and identity.
Van Nistelrooy’s record is damning. Since that Wolves defeat in December, Leicester have also lost at home to Manchester City (0-2), Crystal Palace (0-2), Fulham (0-2), Arsenal (0-2), Brentford (0-4), Manchester United (0-3), and Newcastle (0-3). Not only are the results consistently poor, but the inability to find the back of the net over such a prolonged stretch has raised serious questions about the squad’s attacking capability, tactical setup, and mental resilience. Van Nistelrooy has now seen his side lose more games than they’ve scored goals during his tenure — a stat that encapsulates the disaster unfolding at Leicester.
In contrast, Pereira’s Wolves are on a clear upward trajectory. The 3-0 win at the King Power was just the beginning of a gradual but steady climb out of danger. While Wolves may not have hit the heights they were dreaming of at the season’s outset, they’ve shown enough grit and growth to ensure they’ll remain a Premier League side next season. Their performances have improved, the goals have started flowing, and most importantly, the defensive stability that was missing earlier in the campaign has returned.
The contrast between the two clubs couldn’t be starker. Wolves are organized, motivated, and pulling in the same direction. Leicester, meanwhile, appear broken — not just tactically, but culturally. Questions must be asked of the board’s recruitment, both in terms of players and managerial appointments. Van Nistelrooy was a gamble that hasn’t paid off, and it’s likely that his tenure will come to an end once relegation is confirmed.
The Foxes’ potential drop to the Championship also raises longer-term concerns. Unlike in previous years, when relegated sides have had a clear identity or core group of players capable of bouncing back (like Burnley or Leicester themselves after 2008), this current Leicester squad feels rudderless. Morale is shattered, key players will likely seek exits, and the financial implications of a second-tier return will only compound the crisis.
Wolves fans, on the other hand, can begin to look ahead with cautious optimism. Pereira may not have delivered fireworks, but he’s brought stability and restored belief to a squad that looked like it might sleepwalk into the relegation zone. The 3-0 win at Leicester may not have seemed like much at the time — but in hindsight, it was the beginning of two very different stories. One of revival. One of ruin.
Let me know if you want this reworked into an article-style format or want to include quotes, stats, or comparisons to other seasons.