Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca will miss Saturday’s clash at Ipswich, serving a one-match touchline ban after picking up his third yellow card of the season during the recent game at Old Trafford.
Steve Cooper stands firm with “no regrets” over his touchline protests at Old Trafford, a move that’s now set to sideline him at Ipswich. The Leicester City manager received his third yellow card in just 12 games after venting his frustration over an unreviewed offside call on Diogo Dalot during United’s second goal. With prior cautions against Aston Villa and Arsenal, Cooper has now earned a one-match touchline ban, expected to be enforced at Portman Road on Saturday, pending official confirmation.
Despite being sidelined for a crucial clash against fellow promoted side Ipswich, Steve Cooper stands by his actions, expressing no regret over his outburst at Old Trafford. Cooper remains confident his team will adapt, citing their familiarity with the situation—after Enzo Maresca’s touchline ban during January’s 1-1 draw against Ipswich at King Power Stadium.
Reflecting on the incident, Cooper explained, “I’m not sitting here with any sort of regrets or thinking that I’ve let myself down. I’m thinking: ‘What if I didn’t say anything?’ For me, that’s worse.” While he awaits final confirmation of his ban, Cooper is prepared to handle it, noting, “I’m not saying it’s a good thing, but it’s fairly common. You’ll see it most weeks.”
Steve Cooper pointed to the referee’s decision-making, reflecting on how these situations unfold and acknowledging it won’t be unfamiliar for his players. “We’ve faced teams with managers in the stands; now it’s our turn to adapt,” he said.
Emphasizing player responsibility, Cooper explained, “We’re big on players taking ownership. In large stadiums, they often can’t hear much from the sidelines anyway, certainly not like in training. I’m not saying you can’t influence from the sidelines, but our players know what it takes to perform.”
With many players still in the squad from last season, Cooper is confident they’re prepared, noting, “The players are honed in. That will be no different no matter where the coach is standing.”
Though it may seem like Steve Cooper has swiftly accumulated yellow cards, he’s actually joining a growing list of Premier League managers facing suspension for sideline behavior. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Southampton’s Russell Martin have already served one-match bans this season after reaching the three-booking limit.
Reflecting on the trend, Cooper commented, “Referees will handle things in very different ways. You’re asking about me, but really we should be asking why managers are getting infuriated.”