Blackburn Rovers boss Valérien Ismael has made a revealing admission that might leave Leicester City fans uneasy ahead of Saturday’s crucial Championship clash at the King Power Stadium.
Ismael, whose side defeated Southampton 2-1 in their last league outing, suggested that one of his players, Ryan Alebiosu, has only just begun to show his full potential — and hinted that there’s much more to come. It’s the kind of statement that suggests Blackburn could be gearing up to cause another major upset against an already struggling Leicester side.
Alebiosu, 23, was on target for Rovers against the Saints, alongside Andri Gudjohnsen, as they picked up a vital three points at Ewood Park. The summer signing from KV Kortrijk has quickly become one of Ismael’s most dynamic players, and the manager’s latest remarks show he’s expecting even more from him when they face the Foxes.
Ismael said, as per the club’s official website:
“There’s still a lot to come from Ryan. I was not pleased with his first-half (against Southampton) and I told him. We know he’s a threat when he attacks and he made it happen in the second-half. He has to play at that level all the time because if you drop a little bit then it will be difficult.
“If he can stay at his level, we will have a lot of joy with Ryan. He already has an assist and now a goal, but he’s capable of much more, so I hope he can develop that consistency.”
While Ismael’s words were meant as motivation for his player, Leicester fans might interpret them differently — as a warning that Blackburn are arriving in Leicester full of belief and determination. And given City’s recent form under Marti Cifuentes, that confidence could spell trouble.
Blackburn currently sit 21st in the table after 11 games, just one point clear of the drop zone. But they’ll travel to the King Power Stadium with renewed momentum and nothing to lose — exactly the kind of opponent Leicester have struggled against this season.
Alebiosu, who began his career at Arsenal and came through their academy system, was brought in to strengthen Blackburn’s defence but has emerged as one of their biggest attacking threats. His pace and versatility have added an unpredictable edge to Ismael’s side — one Leicester’s shaky backline could find difficult to handle.
Rovers have endured a tough start to the campaign, losing key players like Dom Hyam, Lewis Travis, and Tyrhys Dolan during the summer. Still, their win over Southampton proved they can turn it on when it matters. Ismael’s words now set the stage for a statement performance against another relegated Premier League side.
For Leicester, however, this is the last thing fans wanted to hear. With two straight defeats to Hull City and Millwall already piling pressure on Cifuentes, another setback could ignite fury among supporters who are losing patience fast.
Blackburn’s manager may not have intended to provoke, but his confidence in Alebiosu and the team’s progress sends a clear message — the Foxes are in for another tough afternoon, and fans won’t be happy if history repeats itself.