Leicester boss Nigel Pearson has refused to clear up the confusion surrounding his job.Reports on Sunday evening claimed the 51-year-old had been sacked, with the Foxes bottom of the Barclays Premier League, but the club issued a statement insisting Pearson remained in charge ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Arsenal.
He said: “I am, today, managing this club as I have been for the last three and three-quarter years, and I am looking to get my team as best prepared as possible for a big game against Arsenal.
“I understand the interest and you wanting to ask questions, but I have loyalties to the people I work for, my staff and the players, which really is more important to me than trying to clarify things for a story which was based on speculation.”
Pearson expects to be in charge for the rest of the season as the Foxes battle the drop but insisted all his focus is on tackling Arsenal on Tuesday.
Nigel Pearson clings on to Leicester City job after night of confusion
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“I’ve had conversations, absolutely,” he said when asked if he had received reassurances about his job.
“I am always happy to take the responsibility that being a manager brings. The club made a statement and I’m not going to speak about it.
“We have a game tomorrow and it’s important my focus, and the focus of the players, is on what we can do tomorrow night rather than talk about something I’m not prepared to talk about.
“I always have a very good working relationship with the owners and I’m sure I will moving forward. If I have got things to say I will say it in the appropriate manner to the appropriate people.
“In an ideal world I would rather the story not be out there. I had an interesting Sunday.”
Pearson also commented on the bizarre clash with Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur during Saturday’s Premier League match at the King Power Stadium when the Leicester manager appeared to grab McArthur by the throat. He played down the incident and suggested that it had been blown out of proportion after it was discussed on Match of the Day by host Gary Lineker and pundits Danny Murphy and Jermaine Jenas.
“It’s not helpful when the three fountains of knowledge on Match of the Day make a mountain out of a molehill,” he said.
Lineker was quick to respond, posting his reply on Twitter within half an hour of Pearson’s comment.
“Ah Nigel Pearson is blaming MOTD for making a mountain out of a molehill. We’d best be careful in future, the fella can look after himself.”
The Match of the Day presenter was then asked by former News of the World sports editor Paul McCarthy whether he is a fountain of knowledge, to which Lineker seemed to hint that Leicester’s board had changed their minds over the decision to sack Pearson.
Source: Guardian
