Coventry City ace fires 5-word message at Abdul Fatawu after Leicester’s relegation

For the first time in six years, Midlands rivals Coventry City and Leicester City will be competing two divisions apart next season.

Back in the COVID-affected 2019/20 campaign, Coventry secured promotion from League One as champions after the season was curtailed early, while Leicester were thriving in the Premier League. The Foxes finished fifth that year to qualify for European football and went on to lift the FA Cup the following season.

Fast forward to now, and the fortunes of both clubs have dramatically changed. Coventry, after six years in the Championship and suffering play-off heartbreak twice in three seasons, have finally returned to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years under Frank Lampard, sealing promotion in emphatic fashion as title winners.

Leicester, meanwhile, have endured a nightmare campaign. Following in the footsteps of Luton Town, they have suffered consecutive relegations and will play in League One for the first time since 2009.

The season was supposed to be very different for the Foxes. Under Marti Cifuentes, Leicester were tipped as strong favourites for an immediate Premier League return. However, poor investment in the squad, managerial instability and a six-point deduction for financial breaches combined to derail their campaign and ultimately send them crashing into the third tier.

Very few Leicester players have emerged with credit this season, although loanee Jordan James has been one of the rare positives. Abdul Fatawu, despite entering the campaign with high expectations, struggled for consistency throughout the year.

Fatawu had starred during Leicester’s Championship-winning season in 2023/24 under Enzo Maresca, registering six goals and 13 assists while on loan from Sporting CP. After an injury-hit Premier League season limited his impact, many expected the Ghana international to dominate upon returning to the second tier.

Although he has managed nine goals and seven assists this season, those numbers only tell part of the story. Fatawu has delivered match-winning moments, but his inconsistency has also frustrated supporters, particularly during the closing stages of the campaign when Leicester needed inspiration most.

While several Leicester players remained silent following confirmation of relegation, Fatawu eventually addressed the situation on Instagram ahead of what could be his final appearance for the club against Blackburn Rovers.

One notable response came from fellow Ghanaian Brandon Thomas-Asante, who played a key role in Coventry’s promotion-winning season. Despite the fierce rivalry between the clubs, Thomas-Asante publicly backed his international teammate with a simple five-word message: “you did your bit bro.”

The message served as a reminder of how dramatically the paths of the two clubs have diverged. Coventry are preparing for life back in the Premier League after a 25-year absence, while Leicester are heading into League One only a decade after winning the Premier League title.

As for Fatawu, it seems increasingly unlikely that he will remain at the King Power Stadium next season. Given his reputation and potential, alongside Leicester’s likely need to sell players to ease financial pressures, an exit appears probable.

So while Leicester attempt to rebuild and fight for promotion next season, Fatawu may no longer be part of that journey, and his post-relegation message could soon fade into the background.